Private Finance Initiative

HC Deb 31 January 2003 vol 398 c1088W

Mr. Flight

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to hold an overall review of the Private Finance Initiative process; [92770]

(2) what reforms (a) he has made and (b) he intends to make to the procurement process of the of the Private Finance Initiative [92773]

Mr. Boateng

The Government keeps all aspects of procurement policy under review in order to ensure that high quality public services are delivered on the basis of value for money.

Starting with the abolition of compulsory testing and the development of Treasury Taskforce guidance on PFI, the Government has introduced a number of reforms to spread best practice, including revised guidance on standardised contracts; the launch of a new Green Book on project appraisal; the launch of a Code of Conduct on the refinancing of early PFI projects; and the piloting of batched procurement.