§ 20. Lynne JonesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional public debt would be as a percentage of GDP if all capital expenditure agreed under private finance and private partnership initiatives were included. [35764]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithIn my answer to my hon Friend the Member for Eccles (Ian Stewart) on 7 February 2002,Official Report, columns 1144–46W, I set out the estimated level of capital spend by the private sector in projects taken forward under the private finance initiative.
It is not possible to calculate accurately the increased level of public debt that would be created if these projects were funded instead by the public sector. That would depend on the way in which the project was taken forward. Since the abolition of universal testing, public authorities choose the method of procurement which is best suited to individual projects.