PFI Programme

Dr. Cable
16. To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he has made an evaluation of the private finance initiative programme for school buildings.

Jim Knight
In 2005, we commissioned Partnerships UK to review operational schools private finance initiative contracts. Overall, this review was positive with, on balance, contracts operating successfully across most of their provision.

The review highlighted some difficulties and made recommendations, all of which were accepted and most of which had already been addressed. We continue to work with Partnerships UK and HM Treasury to ensure that private finance initiative contracts provide good service and value for money.