Executive orders review into college's PFI scheme

Published on Saturday 16 December 2006 11:47

THE private finance deal used to build West Lothian College is set to be reviewed amid concerns that it is not good value for money.

College bosses raised doubts about aspects of the 17.8 million deal struck with HBG Projects in 1999, which eventually saw the college move from Bathgate to Livingston in 2001. The Scottish Executive yesterday ordered its financial arm for further and higher education - the Scottish Funding Council - to carry out a review.

Last year, the parliament's audit committee warned the college faced an 11 million funding gap over the next 20 years, and auditor general Robert Black reported the college was more than 4m in debt. The Funding Council will be asked to recommend to ministers what options they have to make sure the college gets a better repayment deal.

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said: "The Funding Council believes there are aspects of this particular contract that may not represent best value to the public purse, and it wishes to explore whether the current contract can be replaced with more cost-effective arrangements."

Sue Pinder, principal of West Lothian College, said she welcomed the review and would co-operate in any way possible to ensure a speedy resolution.

Fiona Hyslop, SNP education spokeswoman, said: "This is yet another example of the costly failures of Labour's PFI schemes."