§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the proposal to construct the new Royal infirmary in Edinburgh as a private finance initiative project will be open to public inspection before a decision is made to award any contract in respect of it; and if he will make a statement. [23910]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 1 April 1996]: At present, the PFI proposals for the new Royal infirmary in Edinburgh are being prepared by the shortlisted consortia which have been invited to tender. Once a preferred bidder is selected, the trust intends to place on public display, at the Royal infirmary, the plans 155W and designs for the proposal. Extensive information about the project is already available and can be viewed at the infirmary by arrangement.
Bids from the consortia are expected in May. The trust will assess these bids in detail before announcing the selected proposal in July. The trust will then compare this bid against a publicly funded option and present the outcome of this in a full business case, which will be submitted for approval to Ministers and the Treasury. Final contract negotiations will then take place, if the private sector bid offers superior value for money. A contract award is scheduled for the end of this year.