Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contingency plans his Department has made to prepare for the possible insolvency of Interserve; and what meetings the Government has had with relevant trade union representatives to discuss such plans and staff concerns.

The public can be reassured that we monitor the financial health of all of our strategic suppliers, including Interserve, and have regular discussions with the company’s management. We are vigilant about monitoring our reliance on individual suppliers and are committed to ensuring that robust contingency plans are in place for all essential services

Further measures announced by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in June 2018 to promote a healthy and diverse marketplace of suppliers for government contracts include requiring key suppliers to develop ‘living wills’ which will allow contingency plans to be rapidly enacted if needed.

The Government is a customer of Interserve, not a director or shareholder of the company and Interserve’s relationship with its employees and trade unions is a matter for the company.