Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has contingency plans for the event of Capita being unable to fulfil its contractual obligations with schools in (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) other areas; what assessment he has made of the total value of contracts between schools and Capita; and if he will make a statement.

The priority of the Government is the continued delivery of public services.Cabinet Office regularly monitors the financial stability of all strategic suppliers, including Capita. Cabinet Office officials continue to engage with all strategic suppliers and make continuing assessments as appropriate. Contingency plans are made when necessary. It would not be appropriate to discuss in any further details of contingency plans associated with particular contracts due to issues of commercial sensitivity.

The Department expects Local Authorities and academies to have sufficient contingency plans in place should they need to re-procure services currently provided by Capita.