§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by type of project(a) how many schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative, (b) what is the value of those schemes and (c) what private sector contribution will be required both initially and as revenue support during the lifetime of the schemes. [41744]
§ Sir John WheelerNo schemes under the private finance initiative, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in November 1992, have been approved in Northern Ireland to date. A number of areas, including two pilot projects covering sewage treatment plans in the water executive with an estimated value of £20–25 million are under consideration. It is too early, however, to put a total value on these schemes or estimate what the public sector contribution is likely to be.