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Business chiefs have called on politicians from all sides to start taking PFI seriously, and stop using it as a political point scoring. Speaking at a conference in London last week, the CBI's director of public services, Dr Neil Bentley, blasted both the Government and the Conservatives over how they had treated the scheme. ‘The major political parties cannot and must not shy away from discussing with the industry, in an open and honest fashion, about what their intentions are, and how they want us to help,' said Dr Bentley. He told delegates PFI ‘should be nurtured and built on', and since the scheme was launched in 1992, a total of 620 deals had been signed, worth a total of £57bn. Dr Bentley said there needed to be new research by the National Audit Office on PFIs, with more analysis on the role of soft services. ‘The market is receiving mixed signals,' he added. ‘And private support from ministers is not being reflected in the very public project cancellations or postponements.' His comments come ahead of a significant change which may negate the need for PFI. When new international accounting standards are taken up by the public sector next year, PFI will come on to the balance sheet for the first time, making the deals less attractive. Until now the private sector element has been used as a way of keeping deals off the borrowing accounts. Local authorities were also driving a harder bargain, according to Mouchel chief executive, Richard Cuthbert.

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BUSINESS

'Take PFIs seriously' CBI tells authorities

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