16 PFI project companies only start to receive income from the public sector when a building is ready for use. There is some evidence that this provides a powerful incentive to complete PFI projects on time or early. In 2003, 12 projects reported an early finish (32 per cent). In 2008, just five projects (five per cent) reported construction finishing early, which is a statistically significant change. The public sector is not obliged to occupy or pay for early buildings, but early completion clearly provides the public sector with greater flexibility.
17 The 2003 study reported that all roads were completed early and all prisons on time or early. No roads and just one prison are included in the 2008 sample, which may partially explain the reduction in the proportion of projects reporting early completion.