§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 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. [30831]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 28 June 1995]: It is not possible for 1994–95 or 1995–96 to attribute to the private finance initiative changes in either actual or planned Government spending. Progress in using the PFI is only one of many factors to be taken into account in assessing the level of public sector capital spending in Scotland. Also, it is not possible on the information currently available to forecast the effect on employment of the PFI. There is, however, no evidence that any public sector jobs have been lost to date through the PFI. Many of the jobs involved in capital projects funded by the public sector at present are, of course, in the private sector. Where, however, the PFI funds projects which would not go ahead otherwise, additional jobs will be created.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 have they 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. [30830]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 28 June 1995]: Schemes to the value of £37.9 million were approved in 1994–95. Precise details for the current financial year are not yet available, but estimates suggest that projects with a value of more than £60 million will be approved. The Scottish Office document "Private Finance Partnership in Scotland" published in March 1995 identified potential projects with a total value of £2.68 billion. The Scottish Office does not have available centrally information on the length of the assessment process for individual projects which are the responsibility of a range of different public authorities.