Defence

Maria Eagle Excerpts

Thursday 30th January 2025 Written Corrections

The following extract is from the Westminster Hall debate on Defence Procurement: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises on 28 January 2025.

[Maria Eagle]

My hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Chris Evans) was passionate in making his points about late payment; this is not the first time that he has raised that issue in parliamentary settings. The Government do recognise the importance of fair payment practices. Direct suppliers to the MOD are required to sign up to the prompt payment code to be eligible for MOD contracts. The Director General Commercial recently wrote to large suppliers to remind them of that responsibility because some are better at complying than others.

[Official Report, 28 January 2025; Vol. 761, c. 105WH.]

Written correction submitted by the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, the right hon. Member for Liverpool Garston (Maria Eagle):

[Maria Eagle]

My hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Chris Evans) was passionate in making his points about late payment; this is not the first time that he has raised that issue in parliamentary settings. The Government do recognise the importance of fair payment practices. Direct suppliers to the MOD are required to comply with the Government’s prompt payment policy to be eligible for MOD contracts. The Director General Commercial has written to large suppliers to remind them of that responsibility because some are better at complying than others.