Express & Star

MPs demand update on Carillion probe

MPs who ran a Parliamentary inquiry into collapsed construction giant Carillion have demanded an update on a probe into the firm.

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The former Carillion HQ in Wolverhampton

Business committee chair Rachel Reeves and work and pensions committee chair Frank Field said it was time for answers on the Wolverhampton-based company, which went bust in January 2018.

Carillion's demise resulted in the loss of more than 2,000 jobs and saw major projects it was working on, including the £475m Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick, grind to a halt.

An investigation was subsequently launched by watchdog the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) into the running of the company, including audits by accountancy giant KPMG as well as the conduct of two former finance directors, Richard Adam and Zafar Khan.

The influential MPs have now asked FRC's chief executive Stephen Haddrill for an update on the probe.

In a joint letter, Ms Reeves and Mr Field said: "It is now over 18 months since the collapse of Carillion and both our committees are keen to see the structural and cultural changes enacted that would prevent another such scenario.

"We would welcome any other relevant updates on your work or the progress of investigation that you are able to provide us."

The pair have also asked the watchdog to set out for the scope of each of investigation relating to Carillion, what progress has been made so far and when it expected these investigations to complete.