Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has assessed the feasibility of maintaining services provided by Carillion plc to schools by offering directly to employ former Carillion staff at schools.

Our priority is to ensure schools can continue to operate as usual. Government is supporting the official receiver, so that services to schools and other public services can continue to be delivered. Decisions about the future of individual services will be addressed in due course and schools and other customers will be kept informed.

Local authorities and academy trusts are responsible for their contracts. The Department has, however, worked with local authorities and academy trusts to make sure they have robust contingency plans in place and that these have been actioned. In some cases, the Department understands that planning has included the option of bringing services in-house. Information available to the department indicates that the number of local authority and academy trust schools, covered by catering, facilities management or other service contracts is relatively low.

The Department is continuing to monitor the situation and will work with schools to help minimise any disruption for pupils.