Active Announced in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026. 24 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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2026

7 events
13 May 2026 | Policy paper British Transport Police Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee Department for Transport Network Rail Office of Rail and Road Regulatory Policy Committee Transport Committee Transport Focus Context · primary home: Tackling State Threats Bill linked direct

The King's Speech 2026 – Background Briefing Notes (PDF)

Why linked: King's Speech 2026 Background Briefing Notes explicitly names 'Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill' as a policy item; this is the primary source document for the legislative programme

The full PDF of the King's Speech 2026 background briefing notes from the Prime Minister's Office, containing dedicated section on the Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill (p.75) setting out the rationale for establishing Great British Railways.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 May 2026 | Policy paper Department for Business and Trade linked commitment

King's Speech announces Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill

Why linked: The King's Speech 2026 and official briefing notes announce the Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill as part of the government's legislative programme.

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.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ The King's Speech 2026: background briefing not… (129pp)
24 Mar 2026 | Policy paper Department for Business and Trade linked direct

Department for Business and Trade’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) action plan: 2025 to 2028

Why linked: DBT's SME action plan 2025–28 — operational context for the late payments reform programme published on the same day (24 March 2026) as the consultation response.

DBT's SME action plan 2025–28 — operational context for the late payments reform programme published on the same day (24 March 2026) as the consultation response.

In response to: DBT small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) action plan: 2025 to 2028

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
24 Mar 2026 | Guidance Cabinet Office linked direct

Small and Medium Business Hub

Why linked: 2026-03-24 Small and Medium Business Hub guidance on government commitment to prompt payment - relevant guidance on payment practices implementation

Centralised guidance for SMEs and departments on government’s commitment to support start-ups and small businesses via government procurement, and commit to paying them on time.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
9 Mar 2026 | Policy paper Small Business Commissioner linked direct

Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025

Why linked: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report 2024-25; directly relevant as the OSBC is the named responsible entity for late payment enforcement and a key body in the scope

Report on the activities of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner annua… (104pp)
+3 more
↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and… (226pp) ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and… (104pp) ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and… (226pp)
9 Jan 2026 | Policy paper Department for Business and Trade linked direct

Backing your business: our plan for small and medium-sized businesses

Why linked: 'Backing your business' SME strategy paper that sets late payments reform front-and-centre and is the policy umbrella the Bill sits under.

Strategy setting out a long-term plan for government support for small and medium-sized businesses.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Backing your business: our plan for small and m…
+6 more
↓ Backing your business: our plan for small and medium sized … (66pp) ↓ Backing your business: one page summary (1pp) ↓ Backing your business: policy annex (web version) ↓ Backing your business: policy annex (PDF version) (43pp) ↓ Backing your business: evidence annex (web version) ↓ Backing your business: evidence annex (PDF version) (39pp)

2025

3 events
30 Dec 2025 | Guidance Department for Business and Trade linked direct

Business payment practices and performance: directors' reporting requirements

Why linked: December 2025 directors'-reporting guidance — operationalises the directors'-report payment data requirement that the Bill's board-level scrutiny duty layers onto.

Guidance on the statutory requirement for companies to include payment data headline statistics in their directors’ reports.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Guidance to reporting on payment data in direct…
2 Sep 2025 | Guidance Department for Business and Trade linked direct

Business payment practices and performance: reporting requirements

Why linked: September 2025 reporting requirements guidance — operationalises the duty under SBEE Act 2015 s.3 and 2017 Regulations that the Bill leverages for SBC compliance checks and persistent-late-payer identification.

Guidance on the statutory reporting duty for companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Duty to report: guidance to reporting on paymen…
12 Jun 2025 | Policy paper Small Business Commissioner linked direct

Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024

Why linked: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report 2023-24; documents the regulatory body's activities on late payments and enforcement

Report on the activities of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annua… (92pp)
+3 more
↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (180pp) ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (92pp) ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (180pp)

2024

1 event
11 Mar 2024 | Policy paper Small Business Commissioner linked direct

Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2022 to 2023

Why linked: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report 2022-23; documents prior period activities relevant to policy development trajectory

Report on the activities of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annua… (92pp)
+2 more
↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (92pp) ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (190pp)

2023

5 events
15 Feb 2023 | Consultation (closed) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero linked direct

Small Business Commissioner: statutory review 2023

Why linked: Small Business Commissioner statutory review 2023 consultation; part of the Payment and Cashflow Review informing late payment protections

As part of the recently announced Payment and Cashflow Review , w e are seeking views and evidence to inform the Statutory Review of the Small Business Commissioner, looking at particularly its effectiveness in improving payment practices in commercial transactions …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
15 Feb 2023 | Consultation (open) Department for Business and Trade Small Business Commissioner linked direct

Statutory Review of the Small Business Commissioner

Why linked: Statutory Review of the Small Business Commissioner consultation (open 2023); directly informs the legislative scope and enhanced enforcement mechanisms

Statutory Review of the Small Business Commissioner consultation (open 2023); directly informs the legislative scope and enhanced enforcement mechanisms

In response to: Small Business Commissioner: invitation for views on the statutory review 2023

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
15 Feb 2023 | Consultation (closed) Department for Business and Trade Small Business Commissioner linked direct

Small Business Commissioner: invitation for views on the statutory review 2023

Why linked: Small Business Commissioner statutory review invitation 2023; formal consultation driving policy reform

We're seeking views on the Small Business Commissioner’s effectiveness, as part of a statutory review.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Statutory Review of the Small Business Commissi…
31 Jan 2023 | Consultation (closed) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero linked direct

Amendments to the Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017

Why linked: 2023-01-31 consultation on amendments to Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017 - pre-legislative consultation directly on late payment enforcement

We're seeking views on proposals to amend and improve the Payment Practices and Performance Regulations, and whether they should extend beyond their current expiry date of 6 April 2024. The consultation sets out proposals on: amending the expiry date to …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
19 Jan 2023 | Policy paper Small Business Commissioner linked direct

Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2021 to 2022

Why linked: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report 2021-22; provides institutional context for enforcement powers debate

Report on the activities of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annua… (86pp)
+2 more
↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (83pp) ↓ Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and… (158pp)

2021

1 event
17 Nov 2021 | Consultation (closed) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero linked direct

Statutory Review of The Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017

Why linked: 2021-11-17 statutory review of Reporting on Payment Practices Regulations - formal review of existing enforcement mechanism

The objectives of the reporting on payment practices and performance regulations are firstly to increase transparency and public scrutiny of large businesses’ payment practices and performance, and secondly to give small business suppliers better information so they can make informed …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2020

2 events
1 Oct 2020 | Consultation (closed) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero linked direct

Increasing the Scope and Powers of the Small Business Commissioner

Why linked: 2020 Consultation on increasing Small Business Commissioner powers; substantive policy consultation on mechanisms and enforcement

This consultation seeks views on the merits of strengthening the Small Business Commissioner’s ("the Commissioner") ability to assist small businesses by providing them with effective mechanisms for redress, in respect of late payments. The Commissioner would potentially gain powers to …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
1 Oct 2020 | Consultation (closed) Department for Business and Trade Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy linked direct

Increasing the scope and powers of the Small Business Commissioner

Why linked: 2020 Consultation on increasing scope and powers of Small Business Commissioner; directly addresses late payment redress mechanisms in scope

This consultation seeks views on strengthening the Commissioner’s ability to provide small businesses with mechanisms for redress, in respect of late payments.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Increasing the scope and powers of the Small Bu… (38pp)

2018

1 event
4 Oct 2018 | Consultation (closed) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero linked direct

Creating a Responsible Payment Culture: A Call for Evidence in Tackling Late Payment

Why linked: 2018 Government consultation 'Creating a Responsible Payment Culture'; foundational policy evidence-gathering on late payment culture and enforcement

The Government is building an environment in which small and medium-sized businesses can continue to prosper, tackling the continuing issue of late payments is vital for this to happen. Businesses with good credit and cash flow management build a positive …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2017

1 event
31 Jan 2017 | Consultation outcome Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy linked direct

Business payment practices and policies: duty to report

Why linked: 2017-01-31 Business payment practices and policies consultation outcome - foundational consultation on payment reporting and practices regulation

We’re asking for views on our proposals to make companies report on their payment performance to help create responsible payment practices.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill:… (30pp)
+6 more
↓ Annex E: duty to report on payment practices and policies -… (64pp) ↓ Annex F: duty to report on payment practices and policies -… (4pp) ↓ Duty to report on payment practices and performance: govern… (29pp) ↓ Duty to report on payment practices and performance: final … (30pp) ↓ Duty to report on payment practices and performance: final … (4pp) ↓ Duty to report on payment practices and performance: summar… (14pp)

2015

3 events
7 Oct 2015 | Consultation outcome Department for Business, Innovation & Skills linked direct

Small Business Commissioner role

Why linked: 2015-10-07 Small Business Commissioner role consultation outcome - foundational policy on enforcing small business payment rights

We’re asking for views on our proposals to establish a Small Business Commissioner to help small business resolve supply chain disputes with other larger businesses.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Small Business Commissioner consultation (35pp)
+2 more
↓ Small Business Commissioner: government response (4pp) ↓ Small Business Commissioner: summary of responses (19pp)
25 Feb 2015 | Policy paper Department for Business, Innovation & Skills linked direct

Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill: appropriate review provision - draft statutory guidance

Why linked: 2015-02-25 draft statutory guidance on SBEE Bill review provisions - relevant to understanding statutory framework for this legislation

Draft guidance on a new duty in the SBEE Bill, for ministers to include review provisions in secondary legislation that regulates business.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act: … (6pp)