Ukraine (Shooting Down of MH17) and Gaza

Debate between Lord Campbell-Savours and Lord Popat

Monday 21st July 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Popat (Con)]

May we hear from this side? The noble Lord will have an opportunity to speak later.

Abortion

Debate between Lord Campbell-Savours and Lord Popat

Thursday 3rd April 2014 Grand Committee

[Lord Popat (Con)]

I am afraid the noble Lord’s name is not on the list.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

It does not have to be. I am speaking in the gap.

[Lord Popat]

It happens that way in the Chamber, where we give four minutes, but not in the Grand Committee Room.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

Would the Chairman permit me to speak in the gap?

Small Businesses: Late Payments

Debate between Lord Campbell-Savours and Lord Popat

Tuesday 11th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Popat]

My Lords, at least 80% of invoices are paid within five days by government departments. In March 2013, the biggest paid 97.1% of its invoices within five days. Although 75% of FTSE 100 companies have signed this code, we are doing everything possible to encourage and support the other 25% who have not signed. However, there is a good chance that these companies do not supply that many goods and services in the UK, even though they are FTSE 100 companies listed in the UK.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

My Lords, why do the Government not promote invoice discounting and factoring more vigorously?

[Lord Popat]

My Lords, the discount depends on the supplier and the buyer. Quite often there is an agreement to make prompt payment, and if there is early payment a discount is offered by the supplier to the buyer. Factoring is very common; most banks like to factor invoices, rather than provide additional funding in the form of an overdraft. That is because factoring brings their capital back more quickly than an overdraft facility would.