Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 7 March 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Business Services Authority

Question: Without scapegoating strategic health authorities or the as yet non-operational NHS Business Services Authority, will the Minister give a guarantee that, in line with the Government's target, the Department will now stop the deliberate policy of long and damaging delays of due payments to suppliers to the NHS, such as PJ Care Ltd. in Milton Keynes and The Shred Safe Ltd. of St. Neots, which have waited more than 120 days to be paid? Is he not a little embarrassed that NHS trusts, by those unfair means, seek to mask their deficits, which were incurred as a direct result of implementing Government policy?

Answer: The obligations of everyone in the public sector to pay their bills on time is well set out. If there are instances of that not being observed which the hon. Gentleman wants to bring forward, I will happily look into them.

Secondary information