§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what mechanisms are in place to monitor the(a) service provided by defence projects delivered under the private finance initiative and (b) performance of PFI contracts for projects already operating; [128590]
(2) what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of Private Finance Initiative contracts; and if he will make a statement; [129202]
(3) what the average period of time is between the completion of a full business case and signing of the final contract for PFI contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [129204]
§ Mr. SpellarMOD signs PH deals when appropriate contractual arrangements have been negotiated in order to secure best value for money. The time taken to complete such deals varies from contract to contract. Detailed records covering this particular aspect are not held centrally. Each PFI contract contains performance measures against which service provision is reviewed. MOD also seeks to apply lessons learned from its own PFI deals and from elsewhere in Government, drawing on guidance from the National Audit Office and other relevant bodies.