Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Home Office

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber Rudd) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to announce that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has, in accordance with its Terms of Reference, today published its Interim Report [HC 954]. Pursuant to Section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005, I am also laying a copy of the report before the House.

The report will be published on the Inquiry’s website, www.iicsa.org.uk, and at Gov.UK . Copies will also be available in the Vote Office.

The Interim Report provides an overview of the work undertaken by the Inquiry so far, together with emerging themes and recommendations.

Across Government, the Interim Report will be given careful and proper consideration. Discussions with Business Managers are currently in hand to schedule a debate to be held in Government time to enable the House to fully discuss the content.

I would like to thank Professor Jay and the Panel for their continued work to uncover the truth, expose what went wrong in the past and to learn the lessons for the future.

Answering body: Home Office

I am pleased to announce that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has, in accordance with its Terms of Reference, today published its Interim Report [HC 954]. Pursuant to Section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005, I am also laying a copy of the report before the House.

The report will be published on the Inquiry’s website, www.iicsa.org.uk, and at Gov.UK . Copies will also be available in the Vote Office.

The Interim Report provides an overview of the work undertaken by the Inquiry so far, together with emerging themes and recommendations.

Across Government, the Interim Report will be given careful and proper consideration. Discussions with Business Managers are currently in hand to schedule a debate to be held in Government time to enable the House to fully discuss the content.

I would like to thank Professor Jay and the Panel for their continued work to uncover the truth, expose what went wrong in the past and to learn the lessons for the future.

Answering body: Home Office

I am pleased to announce that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has today published its first regular report, which can be found at www.iicsa.org.uk.

This report relates to its Child Migration Programmes case study. The child migration policy was misguided and deeply flawed. Successive governments have accepted that the policy of child migration was wrong. The 2010 national apology has been reaffirmed in each subsequent year. Over £9m has been made available to former child migrants to help them be reunited with their families.

Across Government, we look forward to viewing this report and considering how we can respond to its content. Meanwhile I would like to thank Professor Jay and her Panel for their continued work to uncover the truth, expose what went wrong in the past and to learn the lessons for the future.

Answering body: Home Office

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber Rudd) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to announce that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has today published its first regular report, which can be found at www.iicsa.org.uk.

This report relates to its Child Migration Programmes case study. The child migration policy was misguided and deeply flawed. Successive governments have accepted that the policy of child migration was wrong. The 2010 national apology has been reaffirmed in each subsequent year. Over £9m has been made available to former child migrants to help them be reunited with their families.

Across Government, we look forward to viewing this report and considering how we can respond to its content. Meanwhile I would like to thank Professor Jay and her Panel for their continued work to uncover the truth, expose what went wrong in the past and to learn the lessons for the future.

Answering body: Home Office

The Inquiry is delivering in accordance with the work plan it published in December 2016. Details about the Inquiry's work are published by the Inquiry on its website - www.iicsa.org.uk

Answering body: Home Office

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is currently holding a public hearing into allegations of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children residing at or attending Cambridge House Boys’ Hostel, Knowl View School, and other institutions where their placement was arranged or provided by Rochdale Borough Council. This includes allegations relating to Sir Cyril Smith.

It would be entirely inappropriate for the Government to comment on these matters while the work of the IICSA is ongoing.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government recognises the specific difficulties that minors may face when coming forward with evidence to the Inquiry. The terms of reference for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse require it to "consider the experience of survivors of child sexual abuse; providing opportunities for them to bear witness to the Inquiry, having regard to the need to provide appropriate support in doing so".

It is for the Inquiry (which operates independently of Government) to determine how to provide this appropriate support. Information about how the Inquiry supports victims and survivors who come forward with evidence are given on the Inquiry's website - www.iicsa.org.uk

Answering body: Home Office

The terms of reference for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse require it to "consider the experience of survivors of child sexual abuse; providing opportunities for them to bear witness to the Inquiry, having regard to the need to provide appropriate support in doing so". The Inquiry operates independently of Government and it is for the Inquiry itself to determine how best to do this. Details of the Inquiry's approach, and how survivors may make contact, are given on the Inquiry's website - www.iicsa.org.uk

Answering body: Home Office

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is independent of Government. It is for the Inquiry to set out its publication timetable. On 24 November, the Chair of the Inquiry said she would publish her review “in the coming weeks” .

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/news/inquiry-response-home-affairs-select-committee-report-work -independent-inquiry-child-sexual

Answering body: Home Office

At the preliminary hearing on 26 July 2016 Counsel to the Inquiry stated that the Inquiry was making an average of between 20 and 25 police referrals each week. Further details are in the transcript (page 9, lines 4-5):

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2016-07-26-general-matters-relating-to-investigations-transcript.pdf

Answering body: Home Office

Details of Dame Lowell Goddard’s entitlements while she was the Chair of the Independent Inquiry are given in her terms of appointment which are published on the Inquiry’s website at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/94/view/chair%27s-terms-of-appointment.pdf

The Home Office did not acquire or lease any property for Dame Lowell.

Answering body: Home Office

On 12 March 2015 the former Home Secretary established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Inquiry is independent of the Government and is responsible for the management of its own budget and the publication of its own financial reports.

The most recent financial report was published by the Inquiry on 15 September 2016. It is available at:

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/808/view/2015-2016-Inquiry-Financial-Report.pdf

Answering body: Home Office

On 12 March 2015 the former Home Secretary established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Inquiry is independent of the Government and is responsible for the management of its own budget and the publication of its own financial reports.

The most recent financial report was published by the Inquiry on 15 September 2016. It is available at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/808/view/2015-2016-Inquiry-Financial-Report.pdf

Answering body: Home Office

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber Rudd) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I wish to update the House on the change in Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and today is my first opportunity to do so.

This Inquiry was established in March 2015 to consider the extent to which state and non-state institutions have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation, and to make recommendations to protect children from such abuse in future.

On 4 August 2016 the Chair Dame Lowell Goddard wrote to me to offer her resignation which I accepted. I am grateful for all of her work on the inquiry to date.

On 11 August I announced the appointment of Professor Alexis Jay as the new Chair of the Inquiry.

I am firmly of the view that the work of the Inquiry needed to continue without delay. Victims and survivors deserve nothing less. After consultation, I decided that Professor Jay was the best person to provide stability and maintain momentum in the Inquiry’s work.

Professor Jay’s experience, lifelong dedication to child protection and her outstanding leadership of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham demonstrate her suitability to lead the Inquiry. I am delighted that she has agreed to do so.

Answering body: Home Office

I wish to update the House on the change in Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and today is my first opportunity to do so.

This Inquiry was established in March 2015 to consider the extent to which state and non-state institutions have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation, and to make recommendations to protect children from such abuse in future.

On 4 August 2016 the Chair Dame Lowell Goddard wrote to me to offer her resignation which I accepted. I am grateful for all of her work on the inquiry to date.

On 11 August I announced the appointment of Professor Alexis Jay as the new Chair of the Inquiry.

I am firmly of the view that the work of the Inquiry needed to continue without delay. Victims and survivors deserve nothing less. After consultation, I decided that Professor Jay was the best person to provide stability and maintain momentum in the Inquiry’s work.

Professor Jay’s experience, lifelong dedication to child protection and her outstanding leadership of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham demonstrate her suitability to lead the Inquiry. I am delighted that she has agreed to do so.