To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb cols 1068-1070), what assessment they have made of whether late payments may be the fault of a third party or a bank; and whether such payments should be subject to statutory interest.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb cols 1068-1070), what assessment they have made of whether late payments may be the fault of a third party or a bank; and whether such payments should be subject to statutory interest.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb cols 1068-1070), whether they plan to review the 60-day maximum payment term for non-public authorities; and what plans they have, if any, to incentivise early payment.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb cols 1068-1070), whether they plan to review the 60-day maximum payment term for non-public authorities; and what plans they have, if any, to incentivise early payment.

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

18: Clause 3, page 7, leave out lines 3 to 16

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to probe the scope and impact of exempting upwards payments from the restriction on payment terms, given the fact that many of the suppliers will still be small or medium businesses.

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

18: Clause 3, page 7, leave out lines 3 to 16

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment seeks to probe the scope and impact of exempting upwards payments from the restriction on payment terms, given the fact that many of the suppliers will still be small or medium businesses.

My Lords, it is a pleasure to introduce group 4, which primarily covers the important issue of the definitions of different sized businesses. Before I open that debate, I will touch on the other amendments in this group.

Amendment 18, which was signed by my noble friends Lord Hunt of Wirral...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to introduce group 4, which primarily covers the important issue of the definitions of different sized businesses. Before I open that debate, I will touch on the other amendments in this group.

Amendment 18, which was signed by my noble friends Lord Hunt of Wirral...

My Lords, I support my noble friend Lord Sharpe, having signed all the amendments in his name. There are two key principles at stake here, as he eloquently set out: first, not to introduce yet another definition and, secondly, to take the opportunity to bring some clarity, consistency and coherence...

My Lords, I support my noble friend Lord Sharpe, having signed all the amendments in his name. There are two key principles at stake here, as he eloquently set out: first, not to introduce yet another definition and, secondly, to take the opportunity to bring some clarity, consistency and coherence...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, brought up a number of important issues, but I do not think he brought up any viable solutions. He spoke at the beginning about the proliferation of definitions, then sought to add to that proliferation with some new definitions.

He is right that some...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, brought up a number of important issues, but I do not think he brought up any viable solutions. He spoke at the beginning about the proliferation of definitions, then sought to add to that proliferation with some new definitions.

He is right that some...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation and for the context around some of the amendments that he has provided. I thank all noble Lords who spoke in the debate, especially my noble friend Lord Holmes. I will be brief in response.

I totally accept that the...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation and for the context around some of the amendments that he has provided. I thank all noble Lords who spoke in the debate, especially my noble friend Lord Holmes. I will be brief in response.

I totally accept that the...

Moved by

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd

19: Clause 3, page 7, line 23, at end insert “save that the Secretary of State must not specify in regulations which have or will continue to have effect after 1 April 2029 any contract of a description which relates to—

(a) the supply of any goods...

Moved by

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd

19: Clause 3, page 7, line 23, at end insert “save that the Secretary of State must not specify in regulations which have or will continue to have effect after 1 April 2029 any contract of a description which relates to—

(a) the supply of any goods...

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of the board that advises the International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for his support in this, and for the time that the Minister and his officials afforded to discuss it.

I set...

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of the board that advises the International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for his support in this, and for the time that the Minister and his officials afforded to discuss it.

I set...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow my friend, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, and the excellent and eloquent way in which he introduced his amendment, which I was delighted to sign. As he rightly pointed out, this could be seen as the absolute premier DBIST amendment....

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow my friend, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, and the excellent and eloquent way in which he introduced his amendment, which I was delighted to sign. As he rightly pointed out, this could be seen as the absolute premier DBIST amendment....

My Lords, very briefly, this would seem to be the perfect amendment for the Minister to accept. As pointed out, it signals an innovative forward direction for the new department, it utilises complex legislation that has already happened, it does not cost anything, and nothing will happen for two years—perfect.

My Lords, very briefly, this would seem to be the perfect amendment for the Minister to accept. As pointed out, it signals an innovative forward direction for the new department, it utilises complex legislation that has already happened, it does not cost anything, and nothing will happen for two years—perfect.

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, for introducing his amendment. I cannot really improve on what has already been said, except to say that this issue has been raised with His Majesty’s Opposition in the run-up to this Committee stage....

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, for introducing his amendment. I cannot really improve on what has already been said, except to say that this issue has been raised with His Majesty’s Opposition in the run-up to this Committee stage....

My Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, for tabling Amendment 19, and acknowledge his advocacy in relation to e-invoicing and electronic trade documents. However, the intention to exempt imports and exports from maximum payment terms through secondary legislation is crucial to supporting

UK businesses. Whether helping...

My Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, for tabling Amendment 19, and acknowledge his advocacy in relation to e-invoicing and electronic trade documents. However, the intention to exempt imports and exports from maximum payment terms through secondary legislation is crucial to supporting

UK businesses. Whether helping...

Before the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, responds, can I just ask the Minister something? It seems to me that he is accepting the proposition, with which I entirely agree, that the nature of e-invoicing and the use of electronic trade documents will make it possible for...

Before the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, responds, can I just ask the Minister something? It seems to me that he is accepting the proposition, with which I entirely agree, that the nature of e-invoicing and the use of electronic trade documents will make it possible for...

I appreciate what the noble Lord has just said, but it is important that the scope of the Bill is targeted at UK businesses and small businesses. A commercial arrangement between a company based in the UK or a business based elsewhere is probably outside the scope of this Bill...

I appreciate what the noble Lord has just said, but it is important that the scope of the Bill is targeted at UK businesses and small businesses. A commercial arrangement between a company based in the UK or a business based elsewhere is probably outside the scope of this Bill...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has spoken in this short, slightly esoteric argument and on these interests. I simply say that I do not think that this issue will go away. First, the payment terms in the Bill are 60 days and in modern international trade that is a...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has spoken in this short, slightly esoteric argument and on these interests. I simply say that I do not think that this issue will go away. First, the payment terms in the Bill are 60 days and in modern international trade that is a...

Moved by

Lord Holmes of Richmond

24: Clause 4, page 9, line 2, at end insert—

“(3) Statutory interest is to be remitted to the supplier within five working days of payment of the invoices.

(4) “Remitted” in subsection (3) means the point at which the supplier has unequivocal and unencumbered use of cleared...

Moved by

Lord Holmes of Richmond

24: Clause 4, page 9, line 2, at end insert—

“(3) Statutory interest is to be remitted to the supplier within five working days of payment of the invoices.

(4) “Remitted” in subsection (3) means the point at which the supplier has unequivocal and unencumbered use of cleared...

My Lords, I look forward to the debate on this group. Amendment 24 is incredibly straightforward. It requires that the purchaser calculates the interest and makes the payment in all circumstances because they have the means and the resources and are in the position to do such. In doing that,...

My Lords, I look forward to the debate on this group. Amendment 24 is incredibly straightforward. It requires that the purchaser calculates the interest and makes the payment in all circumstances because they have the means and the resources and are in the position to do such. In doing that,...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Holmes of Richmond for this amendment. I am sorry that noble Lords have caught me eating a toffee, which was a terrible error.

The ability to charge statutory interest on late payments was established by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Holmes of Richmond for this amendment. I am sorry that noble Lords have caught me eating a toffee, which was a terrible error.

The ability to charge statutory interest on late payments was established by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for this amendment. I understand the concern that statutory interest is not always claimed or paid in practice, and I agree that it is important to find ways to make the systems work better for suppliers. However, the Bill already strikes...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, for this amendment. I understand the concern that statutory interest is not always claimed or paid in practice, and I agree that it is important to find ways to make the systems work better for suppliers. However, the Bill already strikes...