Liberal Democrat Party policy on PFI

 At the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in September 2008, the Government was called on to:

- Use private finance only when it is shown that it can provide better value for money than public finance.

- Open up alternative financing options to local government, the Northern Irish and Welsh assemblies, and the Scottish Parliament, by allowing them to borrow for investment where public sector financing is the best value option, following similar fiscal rules to those already in place for central government.

- Allow public sector bodies to bid on equal terms whenever provision of a public contract is tendered to ensure increased competition and proper comparison of all options.

- Improve independent monitoring and evaluation of public sector comparators before projects are undertaken and of outcomes when projects are under way.

- Ensure that all aspects of PFI projects are recorded on government accounts.

- Ensure that public sector organisations have the necessary skills and are adequately trained to be competent buyers, ensuring that they secure the taxpayer good value for money.

- Include an annual value-for-money report of PFI projects within the National Audit Office's remit.

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