Private Finance Initiative

HC Deb 06 February 1997 vol 289 c679W

Mr. Timms

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 1996,Official Report, columns 125–26, if he will update the column relating to 1997–98 of the table headed "Private finance initiative: estimated capital spending arising from signed deals". [13893]

Mr. Jack

Table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98", and my answer of 10 December were derived from returns made by Departments as part of the pre-Budget expenditure round. Arrangements have been put in place for the collection and reporting of information on the private finance initiative to the Treasury on a quarterly basis, but the ultimate responsibility for individual figures lies with each department. Collecting information centrally on more than a quarterly basis could be achieved only at disproportionate cost and would distract officials from the important task of securing value for money deals.