MSP demands PFI answers

Published on 14/11/2007 12:53

CENTRAL Scotland list MSP Alex Neil has written to NHS Lanarkshire's chief executive Tim Davison to request copies of all the PFI/PPP contracts entered into by the health board.

The move comes after the Scottish Public Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion ordered that NHS Lothian hand over thousands of pages of agreements that it had made with private company Consort.

NHS Lothian spent two years fighting the request, before the Commissioner eventually ruled that they had no valid reason to withhold the information.

Mr Neil said: "Our issue is not with NHS Lanarkshire per se - they are essentially put in a position where PFI is the only option available to them.

"However, the public are entitled to know how their money is being spent, and NHS Lanarkshire should let us know what they've agreed to.

"We feel they're under pressure not to reveal this info, that certainly seemed to be the case with NHS Lothian, and if it were to be shown that PFI was not value for money, it wouldn't be an indictment on NHS Lanarkshire, but more on the PFI system itself."

NHS Lanarkshire say they would have little problem with Mr Neil looking at their PFI contracts and have already made some available to the public.

A spokesperson said: "NHS Lanarkshire has always made redacted versions of the contracts available to the public as well as financial details which form part of our annual accounts.

"We are aware of the Information Commissioner's recent decision regarding the publication of PFI contracts in Edinburgh and have taken the decision to make the PFI contracts for Stonehouse, Wishaw and Hairmyres Hospitals available in full on our website.

"The Freedom of Information Act does contain exemptions relating to commercial sensitivity and confidentiality and we recognise that there may be circumstance where these will apply to future contracts or transactions."

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MSP demands PFI answers

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