Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2017 to Question 111704, what representations he has received from business organisations on the extent of delay in payment to SMEs in the construction sector.

Unjustified late and non-payment of any amount owed is unacceptable. These practices cause particular problems for small businesses and have been raised by the construction sector. The Government is committed to tacking them, and has introduced measures such as the Prompt Payment Code to improve payment practices across the public and private sector. The Government has also launched two consultations on payment practices within the construction sector.