Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Debate

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Department: Home Office

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Edward Argar Excerpts
Monday 17th October 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for making that important point. The inquiry is, of course, about the victims and survivors. When I wanted to make inquiries about appointing a new chair, I did, of course, consult the victims and survivors consultative panel to ensure that it was supportive, which indeed it was. The right hon. Gentleman is right—we must make sure that the victims and survivors are always at the centre of our words and our deeds.

Edward Argar Portrait Edward Argar (Charnwood) (Con)
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As well as it being vital that this important inquiry is strictly independent, as hon. Members have emphasised, does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that we let it do its work and await its report, rather than anyone seeking in any way to pre-empt its findings?

Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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My hon. Friend is right. We are caught between our impatience to find out more and the need to keep the inquiry independent. We are hoping for an interim statement on the inquiry for the current financial year—the end of March next year—and I hope that that will shed some light on progress to date.