Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he carried out any assessment of the effect of Carillion's liquidation on the viability of the small businesses in its supply chain in the UK prior to deciding not to support that company through the bail-out negotiations.

We are doing everything we can to support Carillion’s subcontractors and suppliers impacted by this collapse, but taxpayers should not, and will not, bail out a private sector company for private sector losses or allow rewards for failure.

We have also set up a taskforce to advise on the impact on small businesses and employees affected by Carillion’s insolvency. It will act as a means for government to communicate to those affected by Carillion’s liquidation, assess wider economic impacts and consider how to ensure that employees are provided with the right support to maximise rapid re-employment.