Motion

Motion TitleLate Payments in the Public Sector

Motion TextThat this Assembly believes businesses and traders who supply goods and services to the public sector should be paid on time and in full; recognises that late payments can negatively impact cash flow and cause undue stress for business owners and their employees; notes with concern the findings of research published by the Federation of Small Businesses in 2023, which found that 56 per cent of small business owners and the self-employed in Northern Ireland had experienced late payment in the last three months; further notes that Northern Ireland was jointly the worst affected region; is concerned that the reasons for late public sector payments generally remain unreported; highlights the need for enhanced reporting by all public bodies in order to improve accountability in this area; calls on the Minister of Finance to introduce a new Executive target for payment of at least 90 per cent of invoices within 5 days for work completed; and further calls on the Minister to work with Executive colleagues to agree fresh measures to ensure 100 per cent of valid invoices are paid within the 30 calendar day statutory limit.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office03/09/2024

Date Selected By Committee03/09/2024

Date of Plenary Debate10/09/2024