THE SNP claims 300 new schools could be built by cutting excess profits of companies involved in public private partnerships (PPPs) and channelling funding through a not for profit trust.
In his latest summer broadside against the Scottish Executive, John Swinney, SNP leader, says that private finance initiative (PFI) and PPP projects incur higher interest charges of between pound;53 million and pound;80 million extra every year.
“That pound;80 million is equivalent to 10 new schools every year for the next 30 years,” he said.
Mr Swinney said that private finance schools in Glasgow will cost an extra pound;6.75 million a year - more than pound;200 million over the lifetime of the contract, equivalent to 25 new schools.
He said SNP-run Falkirk Council was putting together a “ground-breaking pound;55 million bid” to rebuild four secondaries on a not for profit basis and appealed to the Executive, not to block it. “Don’t reject a good idea simply because it comes from the SNP.”
