Mystery shopper’s cautious welcome

A GOVERNMENT scheme to help smaller firms hit by late payments has been successful — but more must be done to help businesses stay afloat, an Oldham MP warns.

The Cabinet Office said its so-called Mystery Shopper programme, under which small to medium-sized companies can complain to the Cabinet Office, had led to payment problems being sorted out in the NHS, Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue and Customs.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams said any action was welcome, but the Government needed to do more.

The MP is leading the campaign Be Fair — Pay on Time for fair payment for small and medium sized businesses She has urged the top 100 FTSE companies to sign up to the “Prompt Payment Code” by the end of the month.

Mrs Abrahams had forced the Government to bring forward the new late payment EU Directive — which introduces a minimum fixed amount of compensation for late payment and tightens the time period for payment








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