Government unveils late payment consultation
New measures to end the problem of late payments to small businesses by large companies who abuse their position in the market have been unveiled today (Thursday 4 October 2018) by the Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst as she launched a call for evidence.
Nearly a quarter of UK businesses report that late payments are a threat to their survival. Tackling them represents a huge opportunity for economic growth, with research from the Federation of Small Businesses suggesting it could add £2.5 billion to the UK economy and keep an extra 50,000 businesses open each year.
The new proposals, building on action government has already taken to improve access to finance and the appointment of the Small Business Commissioner, include empowering trade bodies to highlight the best and worst practices in payment behaviour.
The government has also set the ambition that all its departments commit to paying 90% of undisputed invoices from SMEs within 5 days and ensure all government departments have a dedicated non-executive director responsible for prompt payment, improving payment practices and exploring how better to use technology to make payment processes more efficient.
Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said: “Our 5.7 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and ensuring we remain one of the best places in Europe to start and grow a small business is a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy. Over the past 5 years the amount owed to businesses in late payments has halved, but we will go further to make sure all of our small businesses are treated fairly.”
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “Late payment is the biggest challenge affecting small businesses and it is good to see the government getting serious about this issue, especially when it comes to large firms paying their supply chains promptly.
“The voluntary Prompt Payment Code is not working when it allows signatories like Carillion to pay on terms of over 120 days, so we want to see a new tough and transparent compliance regime being proposed.
“Involving the Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal with the code is also right as it shows a more joined-up approach to this difficult issue. Further, it is a positive step that central government will set an example – paying 90% of undisputed invoices from small and medium-sized businesses within five days.”
The publication of the new call for evidence follows an announcement by the Business Secretary Greg Clark earlier this week where he set out other new measures to support small businesses, including: the Small Business Commissioner to join the Prompt Payment Code’s Compliance Board to support his role in tackling late payment; the board to consider all complaints made about compliance as part of regular reviews, and report on all cases of signatories being removed from the code; and further reform to the code to be considered including whether the Small Business Commissioner should have a greater role in its administration.
Some large businesses use late payments and extended payment terms to exert control over small businesses in their supply chain, and the government will now seek the views of the UK business community on how best to ensure small businesses are given a fair deal.
Cabinet Office Minister for Implementation Oliver Dowden said: “We expect the highest payment standards from both government and big business. That is why we will commit to central government aiming to pay 90% of undisputed invoices from small and medium sized businesses within 5 days. Small firms can also report poor payment practices via our Mystery Shopper service, which ensures their voices are heard.”
The call for evidence launched today forms part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which is committed to creating a fair and just business environment and ensuring Britain is one of the best places to start and run a small business.
CLICK HERE to Respond to the call for evidence. It will be open until 29 November 2018 and the government is encouraging, businesses, trade associations and other interested parties such as academics to contribute their views to it.
