42 Problems in some early schemes arose from the PFI providers' lack of understanding of what schools needed, coupled with a lack of information to help them. With the benefit of hindsight, specialist advisers within the LEA could have made clearer specifications of furniture and fittings at the 'requirement specification' stage. There is now guidance available from 4ps on furniture and equipment that could help. Some schools stated that specialist equipment installed by the PFI provider was out of date. Equipment obsolescence is a risk that needs to be factored in to the financial calculations.
43 Another problem in some schemes was that last minute paring down of the specification to fit affordability constraints led to some components and design 'desirables' being sacrificed. Some of the affected schools then installed additional furniture and equipment at their own expense. Where such mixing happens, detailed itemised inventories, differentiating between what is 'fixed' (integral to the building) and freestanding, and clear identification of who is responsible for which furniture, are necessary to avoid problems. For example, without inventories, if a table is broken there could be confusion over whether its repair is covered by the PFI contract. The emphasis on such issues within PFI should lead to future improvements.