Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what financial assessment he made of Carillion before agreeing a contract for HS2 development with an SPV of which Carillion was a composite part.

HS2 Ltd undertook due diligence on all bids prior to the Main Works Civils Contract Award in July. Each of the joint venture parties individually and collectively were covered. The CEK joint venture has provided HS2 Ltd with assurances that in the event of any member of the group being unable to deliver on its responsibilities, the remaining members, now Eiffage and Kier, would fill the gap.