The government is set to introduce a new bill into Parliament aimed at addressing late payments, which it says harm struggling small businesses. The proposal follows concerns raised by the business secretary that late payment practices can leave smaller firms without sufficient cash flow, effectively delaying or preventing them from meeting costs and obligations. The bill is described as a measure to reduce the impact of “late payment” behavior on businesses that rely on timely payment from customers, including larger firms and public bodies. While details of the legislation are not specified in the provided text, the government’s stated goal is to crack down on late payments and improve payment timeliness to support small enterprises. The measure is intended to provide practical relief for businesses affected by extended payment cycles, which can create financial pressure and restrict operations. The government is introducing the bill as part of its wider efforts to support economic activity and protect smaller companies from payment-related disruption.