9 We found that 28 out of the 37 PFI projects surveyed were delivered on time or earlier than specified in the contract. Only two construction projects that were due to be completed were unfinished at the time of our survey (Summer 2002), and the construction of one of those has since been completed. Of the nine that were not delivered on time, six were delayed by two months or less (Figure 1). Where PFI buildings have been delivered late, departments have been able to defer payments, make payment deductions or seek damages.
10 This result is also an improvement over previous public sector construction experience. In our 2001 'Modernising Construction' report we found that some 70 per cent of central government's construction projects were delivered late. Some of the improvement under PFI may be because specifications are often worked out in greater detail and cost and time targets are set later in the procurement process than under traditional procurement. This reduces uncertainty in the process.