Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many companies based in Scotland that were affected by Carillion’s collapse took up the support services of (a) help and flexibility with tax and (b) special support from banks, how now entered (a) administration (b) liquidation.

We have put processes in place to help companies who are impacted by Carillion’s insolvency including extra support from the banks and time to pay taxes.

We have set up a taskforce to advise on the impact on small businesses and employees affected by Carillion 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.

Lenders have made a fund of £900m available to support small businesses exposed to Carillion’s liquidation - and a Government taskforce has been set up to monitor and advise on mitigating the impacts of Carillion’s liquidation on construction firms, particularly SMEs and those working in the sector.

The British Business Bank through its Enterprise Support Scheme will guarantee loans of up to £100m through its partner banks, which can be used to support overdraft borrowing and refinancing of existing debt.