These firms are laughing all the way to the bank MSP’s fury at school fiasco builders’ £17m

An external wall at Edinburgh’s Oxgangs Primary blew down during Storm Gertrude. sharp focus the controversial method, pioneered by Labour, of private finance deals to construct public buildings.

Andy Wightman, Green MSP for the Lothians, said: “In this new session of parliament, we will be demanding a root- andbranch review of all PPP/ PFI contracts, including the cost, the condition of buildings and the future funding of them. It’s not acceptable for there to be no financial repercussion for ESP.”

Copies of the invoices issued to the council from ESP show the consortium – made up of construction and finance firms – banked just over £ 17m in 2015/16 as part of a 30-year deal to cover building, debt financing and maintenance costs of the schools.

It is expected the total repayment cost for the 17 schools will hit £ 529m by 2032, significantly higher than the £ 360m originally declared.

Speaking in April about the £ 1.5m monthly payment to the consortium, a council spokesman said: “We will not be paying them that this month.”

Asked if the April payment had been withheld, an Edinburgh Council spokeswoman responded: “We will continue to pursue ESP under the contractual terms including making appropriate deductions from the unitary charge.”

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