Child sexual abuse inquiry chairwoman to face questions from MPs
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The chairwoman of a seven-year inquiry into child sexual abuse will face questions from MPs, after calls for a further investigation into historical grooming gangs. Professor Alexis Jay will appear before the Commons Home Affairs Committee on January 21, alongside the inquiry’s secretary, John O’Brien.
Scrutiny is expected to focus on how far Prof Jay’s recommendations have been implemented and how institutions have responded to her findings, which were published in 2022. Committee chairwoman Dame Karen Bradley said: “We have a responsibility to ensure that the results of comprehensive public inquiries set up by Government are acted upon.
“For too long, children were failed by those who should have been protecting them. “We are holding this session to understand how the Government and the different institutions within the remit of the inquiry have responded to its findings. “We want to see if there has been progress in the wide-ranging change needed to implement a comprehensive child safety framework, and what more needs to be done.”.
There have been calls for another national inquiry into historical grooming gangs in areas of the country, after X boss Elon Musk used his social media platform to launch a barrage of attacks on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips.
It came after the Government declined a request from Oldham Council for a Whitehall-led inquiry into child sexual abuse in the town. Ministers have said their priority is acting on the 2022 recommendations of a seven-year inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay into the issue, which have not yet been implemented.
