§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average time taken in the tendering process for(a) design, build, finance and operate roads projects and (b) other PFI transport projects. [5757]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 26 November 1996]The average time taken in the tendering process for DBFO roads projects, from invitation to tender to the awarding of the contract, is 13 months. Information for other PFI transport projects is not readily available, particularly in cases where my Department is not the project promoter, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An average figure would in any case be meaningless, given the differences in scale and complexity between projects.