Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, commenting on the NAO report highlighting the failure of the Cabinet Office to implement the prompt payment commitment for small business and provide value for money said:

“David Cameron promised government departments would pay small business suppliers within five days yet the National Audit Office have found that Ministers are dragging their heels. Some departments - including BIS, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence - are taking much longer.

“Labour will back small businesses struggling under the Tories by cutting and then freezing business rates. And we have put forward a clear plan to tackle the scandal of late payment, ensuring late payers automatically pay interest to their suppliers, and outlawing bad payment practices such as firms being asked to pay for the right to be a supplier.”