Waveney MP Peter Aldous has sought reassurance from the government over the collapse of construction giant Carillion.

After David Lidington, minister for the cabinet office, made a statement in the House of Commons about Carillion on Monday, Mr Aldous sought reassurances from the minister that the government will address the concerns of subcontractors and also called for government support for his bill on retentions abuse in the construction industry.

Last week, using the ten-minute rule process, Mr Aldous brought forward a bill to tackle abuse of cash retentions in the construction industry. Asking the minister for assurances that the government would take his points into account when addressing the concerns of subcontractors, as well as considering bringing forward his bill during government time, Mr Lidington promised to discuss with ministerial colleagues the requests.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Aldous said: 'After hearing of the collapse of Carillion, and spending a lot of time examining cases in the construction industry that bore striking resemblance to the circumstances we are now seeing, it was important to raise this with ministers in the House and to push for my bill to be giving a fair hearing in Government time.

'It is vitally important that those who have lost out from Carillion's liquidation are compensated and I am encouraged that the government appear to be listening to the concerns of SMEs in the construction industry which I raised with them.'

The Aldous Bill is to be heard for its second reading on Friday, April 27.