Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of invoices received by the NHS are paid within 30 days; and how many incur 29 per cent interest for late payment of more than 30 days.

The Department does not centrally collect or hold performance payment data for the National Health Service. NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts are required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) which states contracting authorities must pay valid and undisputed invoices within 30 days.

NHS Improvement monitors Better Payments Practice Code performance data on a monthly basis. Page 47 of the Departmental annual report shows an improvement in the percentage of invoices paid within target from 77% (2017-18) to 79% (2018-19). The report is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/832765/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019.pdf

The Department does not hold information on how many invoices incur the 29% late payment interest.