PCS was alarmed to learn that in addition to the PFI deal signed in April 2001 involving the sale of the Inland Revenue's and Customs and Excise estate to a company based in a tax haven called Mapeley.

After 7 months into the contract the Inland Revenue wrote a note to Mapeley effectively giving assurances that any future losses would be made good by government.

The Inland Revenue is currently in talks with Mapeley looking at ways of "compensating" the company for the "cash problems" arising from the PFI.

Figures being discussed range from £17 million to tide the company over to the £210 million quoted in the Independent on Sunday to cover the full twenty years of the contract.

The extra payment to Mapeley could be as much as the cash paid for the buildings in the first place.

Commenting general secretary of PCS, Mark Serwotka said: "First we hear that the Revenue estate has been sold to a company based in a tax haven and now we learn that the tax payer may have to bail it out. The notion that risk is being transferred in to the private sector under PFI is a total nonsense. Once again the taxpayer will foot the bill in order to line shareholders pockets. It exposes the naked truth about privatisation. There should be a public inquiry. Also it is time to put an end to this mess and bring the estate back in to the public sector."