15. Trade and other receivables

  2008   2007  
Trade and other receivables £m   £m  
Current        
Trade receivables 1,853   1,592  
Prepayments 981   922  
Accrued income 1,340   1,284  
Other receivables 275   275  
 
  4,449   4,073  
 

Trade receivables are stated after deducting allowances for doubtful debts, as follows:

  2008   2007  
  £m   £m  
At 1 April 280   315  
Amounts charged to the income statement 114   117  
Utilised in the year (211 ) (147 )
Acquisitions 7   –  
Exchange differences 19   (5 )
 
At 31 March 209   280  
 

Trade receivables are continuously monitored and allowances applied against trade receivables consist of both specific impairments and collective impairments based on the group’s historical loss experiences for the relevant aged category. Historical loss experience allowances are calculated by line of business to reflect the specific nature of customers relevant to that line of business.

Trade receivables are due as follows:

          Past due and not specifically impaired:      
         
     
  Not past due   Trade receivables specifically impaired net of provision   Between 0 and 3 months   Between 3 and 6 months   Between 6 and 12 months   Over 12 months   Total  
  £m   £m   £m   £m   £m   £m   £m  
                             
2008 1,090   3   571   63   73   53   1,853  
2007 963   1   502   63   42   21   1,592  
 

Gross trade receivables which have been specifically impaired amounted to £68 million (2007: £50 million)
     Trade receivables not past due and accrued income are analysed below by line 
of business. The nature of customers associated with each segment is provided in the segmental analysis note.

  2008   2007  
Trade receivables not past due £m   £m  
BT Global Services 793   608  
BT Retail 224   299  
BT Wholesale 68   50  
Other 5   6  
 
Total trade receivables not past due 1,090   963  
 
 
  2008   2007  
Accrued income £m   £m  
BT Global Services 797   641  
BT Retail 309   360  
BT Wholesale 176   226  
Openreach 42   53  
Other 16   4  
 
Total accrued income 1,340   1,284  
 

Given the broad and varied nature of the group’s customer base, the analysis of trade receivables not past due and accrued income by line of business is considered the most appropriate disclosure of credit concentrations. Cash collateral held against trade and other receivables amounted to £29 million (2007: £33 million).

         
  2008   2007  
  £m   £m  
 Non current        
 Other assetsa 854   523  
 
a

Mainly represents costs relating to the initial set up, transition or transformation phase of long-term networked IT services contracts.

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