Committees

Carillion collapse: Committee hears on cross-government response

7 February 2018

The Liaison Committee hears from Sir Amyas Morse KCB and Cabinet Office top representatives on the collapse of Carillion.

Focus of the session

Following widespread concern about the collapse of Carillion, which touches on the work of many select committees, the Liaison Committee holds an evidence session to take a preliminary look at the issues.

The session seeks to establish the main impacts for different government departments and public services, and explores government support for public sector workers and contracts. This includes:

  • What are the immediate impacts of the collapse for public services?
  • How adequate is the Government's response, how long Government support will last, and what is not covered by Government support?
  • How is Government's response to the collapse being coordinated? Where does Government responsibility and accountability lie?
  • What contingency arrangements were put in place following the July 2017 profits warning about Carillion?
  • Are adequate supervisory and investigatory powers and sanctions available to regulatory bodies?
  • What is the accountability of the auditors and Carillion?

Witnesses

Wednesday, 7 February 2017, Grimond Room, Portcullis House

At 4.30pm

  • Sir Amyas Morse KCB, Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office

At 4.50pm

  • The Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and John Manzoni, Chief Executive of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Carillion-related inquiries

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has also launched an inquiry: Lessons learned from the collapse of Carillion. This takes a more detailed look at systematic issues around effective Government decision making on sourcing the delivery of public services and how the public sector manages the risk from suppliers throughout the life-cycle of outsourcing a public service. It may also look at the Cabinet Office's role in cross-departmental commercial coordination.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Work and Pensions Committees also plan to examine the management and governance of Carillion, its sponsorship of its pension funds, and the implications for company and pension scheme law, regulation and policy.

Further information

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