Fate of troubled Scots school PFI still uncertain

The fate of what started out as a mould-breaking PFI education deal still hangs in the balance almost three years after the project first came up for grabs.
When it first emerged, Dumfries and Galloway Council's project in Scotland was billed as the first PFI deal in the UK to involve the redevelopment of every school in a local authority area.
But the latest chapter in the troubled saga is that it has now been cut back by "around 25%" due to affordability issues.
When contractors first tendered for it, the value of the scheme was put at £60m. It then rose by another £35m and is now valued at £100m at least.
It is understood that the scheme's sole bidder, the Canmore group (Amec/Mitie/Capita) has now been asked to modify its bid.
A project source said: "Hopes are high that the project will fall within the council's budget and go ahead."
A start on site has now been pencilled in for summer 2005, more than two years later than the original start date.
The original deal, spanning 114 primary and 16 secondary schools, was billed as a five-year building programme. But it is understood that the reduced programme will take three to four years.