Active Announced in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026. 10 of 55 events
Threads / Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill / Timeline
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Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill

The King's Speech 2026 bill to tackle late payments to small businesses and the self-employed, including stronger legal protections and enforcement against poor payment practices.

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26 Mar 2026 | Written question Department for Business and Trade linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to late payment policy on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger businesses; and whether he plans to differentiate

Why linked: 2026-03-26 written question on assessment of proposed changes to late payment policy - direct parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill's policy impacts

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to late payment policy on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger businesses; and whether he plans …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
4 Mar 2026 | Written question Department for Business and Trade linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized construction businesses facing insolvency as a result of planning delays and late payment practices.

Why linked: 2026-03-04 written question on insolvency support for construction SMEs facing late payment - related cash flow protection for late-payment-affected businesses

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized construction businesses facing insolvency as a result of planning delays and late payment practices.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
11 Feb 2026 | Committee report linked direct

Business confidence amongst smaller firms is too low. The Government has released a short plan, but it does not address the significant cost pressures faced by SMEs. The Department of Business and Trade must do more to improve small business cash-flows, reduce costs, and thereby improve the return on investment for small businesses. (Conclusion, Paragraph 17) Sales and cash flow

Why linked: 2026-02-11 document on business confidence and SME cost pressures - relevant context on underlying cash flow challenges the Bill addresses

Business confidence amongst smaller firms is too low. The Government has released a short plan, but it does not address the significant cost pressures faced by SMEs. The Department of Business and Trade must do more to improve small business …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
11 Feb 2026 | Committee report linked direct

Companies House should integrate Fair Payments Code information with the register, to provide small businesses with clearer intelligence about a firm’s payment practices. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40)

Why linked: 2026-02-11 recommendation on Fair Payments Code integration - policy recommendation relevant to enforcement and transparency mechanisms

Companies House should integrate Fair Payments Code information with the register, to provide small businesses with clearer intelligence about a firm’s payment practices. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Type: conclusion | Number: 8 | Response status: response_pending

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
12 Mar 2025 | Written question Department for Business and Trade linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to help small businesses respond to the payment of delayed invoices by larger businesses.

Why linked: 2025-03-12 written question on steps to help small businesses with delayed invoice payments - relevant parliamentary scrutiny proximate to Bill timeline

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to help small businesses respond to the payment of delayed invoices by larger businesses.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
12 Mar 2025 | Written question Department for Business and Trade linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of delayed invoice payments on (a) self-employed individuals, (b) sole traders and (c) small businesses in the construction industr

Why linked: 2025-03-12 written question on impact of delayed payments on self-employed - relevant scrutiny on key beneficiary group for the Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of delayed invoice payments on (a) self-employed individuals, (b) sole traders and (c) small businesses in the construction industr

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Feb 2024 | Written question Department for Business and Trade linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that small business are paid on time by other companies within their supply chains.

Why linked: 2024 PQ to DBT on ensuring small businesses paid on time; recent parliamentary engagement on the policy issue

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that small business are paid on time by other companies within their supply chains.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 Apr 2021 | Written question Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy linked direct

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Prompt Payment Code on SMEs in the construction sector, given that only a small minority of construction businesses are signatories to the Code.

Why linked: Written question on impact of Prompt Payment Code on SMEs in construction—directly addresses enforcement and practical effectiveness of payment protections mechanisms in specific sector.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Prompt Payment Code on SMEs in the construction sector, given that only a small minority of construction businesses are signatories to the Code.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK