§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Attorney-General (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the 707W public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30855]
(2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30854]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe private finance initiative is considered as one of the options for all major capital projects in the Departments for which I am responsible. Expenditure plans within those Departments for 1994–95 and 1995–96 have not been affected by the private finance initiative. No proposals to award contracts under the initiative have been submitted for approval. The question of effects on employment does not therefore arise.