Government sending mixed messages on late payment

February 7, 2019

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) will not be enforcing prompt payment on its £30 billion construction framework. The framework will be used by central government departments and local authorities.

Although the CCS has stated that 30-day payment terms would apply on its forthcoming framework, it confirmed there would be no sanctions on those who failed to meet them.

The NFB believes that this is cause for concern. The £30 billion framework will hoover up the potential work opportunities of many SMEs who will end up being frozen out of a lot of public work for the duration of the seven-year framework. If the supply chain is not paid promptly, it will have a detrimental effect on the health of those companies which no longer have a reliable pipeline of work outside the framework.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “This is a particularly puzzling stance from the Government which stated that, from the autumn of 2019, it will only do business with companies that pay suppliers on time.

“With the £30 billion construction framework launching in September, it would be an ideal time for the Government to side fully behind prompt payment by having its various initiatives working together.”

National Federation of Builders

The National Federation of Builders is a United Kingdom trade association representing the interests of small and medium-sized building contractors in England and Wales.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Clarity on energy efficiency rules for commercial property needed

Propertymark has written to Martin McCluskey MP, Minister for Energy Consumers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, urging the UK Government to provide urgent clarity on the future of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for non-domestic property. The letter follows the publication of the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which confirmed that…
Read More →
Breaking News

English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025

English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025: headline findings on housing quality and energy efficiency The latest findings from the English Housing Survey on housing quality and energy efficiency. This is the second release of data from the 2024-25 survey. This report will be followed by a series of more detailed topic reports in the spring…
Read More →
Breaking News

Propertymark responds to latest HMRC property transactions report

Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, comments: “Based on December 2025’s figures, it is encouraging to see that property transactions remained stable following the Autumn Budget. At a time when many households were concerned about rising living costs, this stability suggests that the Budget provided enough clarity for people to continue progressing with plans to buy…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage activity dips in December

Property industry reaction to the latest mortgage approval data from the Bank of England. The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for December sat at 61,013 down (-4.8%) from 64,072 in November. Approvals are down (-8.4%) when compared to the 66,634 seen in December 2024. This decline was expected due to…
Read More →
Breaking News

£19.9bn of PRS refurbishment required

£19.9bn of refurbishment investment required to bring England’s private rented homes up to EPC C by 2030 Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital, believes that despite the Government extending the deadline for all private rental stock to meet an EPC C rating from 2028 to 2030, refurbishment finance will remain key in helping landlords meet…
Read More →
Home and Living

10 budget patio ideas for beginners in landscaping

Creating an inviting outdoor space doesn’t have to break the bank. With a bit of creativity and some elbow grease, you can transform your backyard into a relaxing retreat. Whether you’re looking to build a brand-new area or revamp an existing one, these budget-friendly patio ideas will inspire you to create a stylish and functional…
Read More →