SCRAP PFI SAYS LABOUR'S BUSINESS AMBASSADOR.

SCRAP PFI SAYS LABOUR'S BUSINESS AMBASSADOR.

'GROWING ALARM' AMONGST ARCHITECTS ABOUT PFI

The SNP has seized on remarks by Labour peer and UK government 'Business Ambassador' Lord Rogers who has called for PFI to be scrapped in an interview with the architect's magazine Building Design.

In the interview the peer, described as 'New Labour's favourite architect' also said the £2 billion of taxpayers’ money which has just been poured in to prop up the failing system should have been spent directly via traditional funding mechanisms.

His remarks were also echoed by other prominent figures in architecture who are sounding "growing alarm" about the troubled state of PFI.

Commenting on Lord Rogers remarks SNP Treasury Spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:

"In the week Labour put £2 billion of taxpayers money into PFI, this is incredibly embarrassing for the Labour party as they meet in Dundee.

"For New Labour's favourite architect to blast their favourite, but discredited, funding model only shows how much PFI is dead in the water.

"This bail-out is a humiliation for the Chancellor, and proof positive that PFI is the economics of the madhouse.

"Why is public money being used to prop up a failing system that gives such a bad return compared to traditional public procurement?

"The cost of propping up Labour’s PFI projects will make Sir Fred Goodwin’s pension arrangements look like pocket change.

"As if any further evidence was needed, the grotesque folly of building public services through private finance is now plain to see.

"Instead of sensible public investment the Labour Government has been ripped off by a credit card style con."