HC Deb 04 December 1996 vol 286 c653W
Mr. Timms

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the criteria for including projects in table 5.5 of the 1996 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" were the same as were applied to table 6.5 of the 1995 FSBR. [7221]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 2 December 19961Yes. Both the tables referred to comprise the best available estimates of capital spending by the private sector resulting from projects under the private finance initiative.

Mr. Timms

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice his Department has given to the Department of Health on the need for central collection of information about the long-term revenue commitments arising from private finance initiative projects entered into by NHS trusts. [7225]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 3 December 1996]The Treasury has undertaken to provide aggregate estimates of the long-term revenue commitments arising from private finance initiative projects. It has asked all Departments to provide information sufficient to honour that commitment.

Mr. Timms

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the information given in table 5.6 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" by Government Department. [7219]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 2 December 1996]Table 5.6 gives the aggregate forward spending commitments arising from signed contracts under the private finance initiative. While the initiative is still relatively new, and the number of signed contracts in each Department is still relatively small, it would not be appropriate to give figures for each individual Department, because this could reveal information about specific contracts which is commercially sensitive—either because a Department currently has only one such contract, or because a Department's figures are dominated by the cost of a single large contract. Giving detailed information, now, about payments expected under individual contracts could make it more difficult for the public sector to secure future contracts on terms that offer best value for money.

Mr. Timms

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the information given in table 5.6 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for all agreed PFI projects. [7223]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 2 December 1996]No. Currently making public estimates of the likely forward commitments arising from PFI deals which have been agreed, but for which contracts have not yet been signed, could undermine the public sector's negotiating position on individual contracts, and make it more difficult to secure future contracts on terms which offer value for money.