Question follow-through · 28543
Defence: Billing
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken for his Department to process invoices for contracted work by SMEs in the defence sector.
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Ministry of Defence
- Tabled
- 4 Feb 2025
- Target answer date
- 6 Feb 2025
- Answer
- 11 Feb 2025 · 7 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Defence and foreign affairs
- Ministry of Defence: Cost Effectiveness · 6 Feb 2025
- Ministry of Defence: Cost Effectiveness · 6 Feb 2025
- Ministry of Defence: Senior Civil Servants · 6 Feb 2025
- Ministry of Defence: Senior Civil Servants · 6 Feb 2025
- Ministry of Defence: Written Questions · 6 Feb 2025
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Votes on this topic
- Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amendment · 23 Jun 2026
- Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness · 23 Jun 2026
- Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11 · 22 Jun 2026
These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.
Recorded timeline
4 Feb 2025
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken for his Department to process invoices for contracted work by SMEs in the defence sector.
6 Feb 2025
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
11 Feb 2025
Answer published
The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring its suppliers of all sizes are paid what they are owed promptly. The department aims to pay 90% of undisputed and valid invoices from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within five days. We are excee...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Ministry of Defence: Cost Effectiveness
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Cabinet Office on potential efficiency savings in his Department since 30 October 2024.
Ministry of Defence: Cost Effectiveness
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what efficiency savings targets does his Department have for financial year (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
Ministry of Defence: Senior Civil Servants
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to take steps to increase the accountability of senior officials in his Department.
Ministry of Defence: Senior Civil Servants
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to introduce new performance standards for senior officials serving in his Department.
Ministry of Defence: Written Questions
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 23387 on the Strategic Defence Review, tabled on 13 January 2025 by the hon. Member for South Suffolk.
Guided Weapons
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects Gravehawk to reach minimum deployable capability.
Guided Weapons: Procurement
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he intends to procure Gravehawk for the armed forces.
Guided Weapons: Procurement
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost to the public purse is of delivering Gravehawk.
Guided Weapons: Procurement
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the total cost for delivering Gravehawk will be covered by (a) his Department and (b) the Danish Ministry of Defence.
Unmanned Marine Systems
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Snapper maritime system to reach minimum deployable capability.
Unmanned Marine Systems
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Wasp maritime system to reach minimum deployable capability.
Unmanned Marine Systems
6 Feb 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has a formal target date for the deployment of Project COOKSON.