§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.
§ Mr. ForthThe reply that I gave to my right hon. Friend on 17 December 1992,Official Report, column 347, set out the Department's role in supporting the introduction of private finance in schools, further and higher education. The Department is now examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993.