3.9 The construction problems have led the combined estimated cost of constructing the hospitals to increase by 98%. The estimated construction cost of the Midland Metropolitan has risen from £350 million expected when the PFI deal was agreed to an estimated £663 million (a rise of 89%). The estimated construction cost of the Royal Liverpool has risen from £350 million expected when the PFI was agreed to an estimated £724 million (a rise of 107%). Not all of the currently expected costs fall to the taxpayer (paragraph 3.14 below) and it is possible that the original cost was too low to meet the specification (paragraph 1.21).