Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to (a) draw up contingency plans and (b) identify alternative suppliers to provide public services to schools in (i) Oxfordshire and (ii) England that are currently provided by Carillion.

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.

We have planned extensively for this and have been working with local authorities (including Oxfordshire), and academy trusts to make sure robust contingency plans were in place, if required. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will work with schools to help minimise any disruption for pupils.

Carillion continues to provide the services under current contracts. The initial focus of the Official Receiver, supported by the Special Manager, will be on preserving public services. The future of individual services will be addressed in due course and schools and other customers will be kept informed.