Written question asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 13 November 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 November 2001. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 November 2001 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many local education authorities have had PFI school schemes approved in the first four tranches; which ones are within their approved timed programme; and how many months of delay have elapsed for those which are behind schedule. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities have had PFI school schemes approved in the first four tranches; which ones are within their approved timed programme; and how many months of delay have elapsed for those which are behind schedule. [15551] Mr. Timms: 72 local education authorities have now had a total of 80 PFI projects approved. This includes 36 projects which have already signed, 24 projects which have already been approved by the Treasury-chaired Project Review Group and 20 projects which have been approved provisionally by this Department. We do not impose a timed programme on local education authorities, other than to indicate the financial year in which we expect contract signature to take place. Contract negotiations and building schedules are a matter for local education authorities and private contractors to determine. We are aware of no serious delays in opening PFI schools against locally agreed schedules.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 375 c261W;375 c266W; 15551
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Contracts Buildings Administrative delays Finance Local education authorities Private finance initiative Schools
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk