Late Payment And The Department Of Health

EDM number 606 in 1995-96, proposed by Jean Corston on 12/03/1996.

That this House notes that community pharmacies are front-line small businesses in the delivery of primary health care to millions of people every week; agrees with the Prime Minister that the late payments of bills is one of the prime threats to the viability of such small businesses; acknowledges that the accepted timescale for payment is 30 days; is appalled to learn that the Department of Health does not settle bills with community pharmacies until 90 days have elapsed; and calls on the Prime Minister to press the Secretary of State for Health to ensure prompt and early payment before he lectures and exhorts others.

This motion has been signed by a total of 103 MPs.