§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the construction industry regarding the private finance initiative. [8263]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMinisters meet the construction industry regularly to discuss a wide variety of topics including the private finance initiative. On 12 October the industry submitted a helpful paper to the Government on the operation of the initiative. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend and ministerial colleagues discussed this with the industry in November. Subsequently, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury issued an action plan for the PFI which responded to a number of industry's points. A copy of this has also been placed in the Library of the House. The Government are continuing their dialogue on the PFI with representative bodies from the construction industry.