As part of the new approach to public-private partnerships announced in December, the government will act as a minority shareholder in PF2 projects. The new team, called the PF2 Equity Unit, is made up of commercial and finance specialists and will be based inside Infrastructure UK – the Treasury unit that works on the UK’s long-term infrastructure priorities and secures private sector investment.
The unit will be led by Margaret Bonsall, a solicitor and former partner of global law firm Linklaters.
• Agreements used to end employment contracts in the public sector may not legally be used to prevent whistleblowing, even if they include confidentiality clauses, the National Audit Office said in a report published last week.
The report called for all “compromise agreements”, the vast majority of which include ‘gagging’ clauses, to state clearly that individuals still have a legal right to make public interest disclosures.
• Just two British homes have received ‘Green Deal’ finance this year. Software problems mean the initiative – which offers householders loans to fund energy-efficient home improvements with no up-front cost – is nowhere near its 10,000 target. Energy minister Greg Barker admitted delivery is taking “a lot longer” than anticipated, but added: “We believe we have ironed out the glitches.”