Oral Answers to Questions

Emily Thornberry Excerpts

Wednesday 17th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am afraid I have to say to the right hon. Gentleman that of course—

[Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) (Lab)]

Just answer the question!

[The Prime Minister]

I will indeed answer the question, but I know that the shadow Foreign Secretary has herself praised Carillion in the past for its work.

To answer the right hon. Gentleman, there is obviously now a Crown representative who has been fully involved in the Government’s response. Before the appointment of the Crown representative to replace the one who had previously been in place, the Government chief commercial officer and the Cabinet Office director of markets and suppliers took over those responsibilities, so it was not the case that there was nobody from the Government looking at these issues. That is standard procedure, and it ensured that there was oversight of Carillion’s contracts with the Government during the appointment process for the Crown representative.