HC Deb 30 January 2002 vol 379 cc369-70W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent studies his Department has undertaken of the management costs of PPPs relative to conventionally procured public sector projects. [27857]

Mr. Andrew Smith

It is the responsibility of Departments to account for the management of their programmes and projects. However the Treasury has instituted a number of reforms since 1997 to improve acquisition of services through all forms of procurement, notably through setting up the Office of Government Commerce. In the area of PFI, the reforms following the two Bates reports, including guidance on standard contract terms and conditions and the establishment of Partnerships UK, together with experience gained in both public and private sectors, are believed to have resulted in reduced procurement costs.