Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 6 November 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 November 2001. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 November 2001 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will list the projects in her Department which have been considered as potential public private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public private partnership proposed; and if she will make a statement. - Includes ref to 13 November 2001, 374 c607W.

Answer: Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the projects in her Department which have been considered as potential public-private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public-private partnership proposed; and if she will make a statement. [13451] Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 607W. Schools PFI projects are not formally approved until a full Outline Business Case (OBC) has been submitted to the Treasury-chaired Project Review Group. This OBC must include a Public Sector Comparator (PSC) and it is a condition of approval that the proposed PFI solution must demonstrate better value for money than the PSC.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 13451; 375 c262-3W;375 c267W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Cost effectiveness Capital investment Finance Government departments Public private partnerships Department for Education and Skills
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk