HC Deb 06 April 2000 vol 347 cc588-9W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the(a) total liabilities

outstanding under PFI contracts and (b) net public debt over the period 2000–01 to 2004–05 if PFI liabilities were accounted for as debt; and if he will make a statement. [117368]

Mr. Andrew Smith

[holding answer 4 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to table C15 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, laid before this House on 21 March 2000.

Table C15 shows a forecast of the estimated payments for services flowing from new private investment in signed and imminent PFI contacts over the 28 years from 1998–99 to 2025/26; and contains details of payments to PFI contractors from 2000–01 to 2004–05. These payments score as current expenditure and thus are already factored into future spending projections and of spending and borrowing (as set out in table C4).