Private Finance Initiative (Hansard, 17 January 1996)

§ Mr. Fisher
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of the private finance initiative in the purchase of information technology by Government Departments. [7896]

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of the private finance initiative in the purchase of information technology by Government Departments. [7918]

§ Mr. Jack
On 22 December, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced the appointment of Graham Jordan as head of the new unit set up to co-ordinate a strategic approach to information technology across Government. At the core of this approach will be the use of the private finance initiative. With Government spending over £2 billion a year on IT, there are many exciting opportunities to improve public services in this area through the involvement of the private sector. The private finance panel has already identified around 150 potential IT private finance initiative projects.