Commenting on the Chancellor’s pledge that the government is to abolish the use of new private finance contracts (PFI), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Public services can’t be financed on the never-never, and the Chancellor’s promise that there’ll be no more PFI contracts signed is welcome.
“But this does nothing to help the many hospitals, councils, police forces and schools. They’ll be paying through the nose for many years to come for what are now brand new buildings, but which won’t be when the debts are finally paid off.
“Expensive interest payments are eating away at already under pressure budgets, hitting care for patients and learning in the classroom. This is money wasted that could have been used for beleaguered public services.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
