Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will amend the terms of reference of the independent inquiry into grooming gangs to examine the role of religion and culture in the abuse.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence.

The Home Secretary has published draft Terms of Reference, which include consideration of ethnicity, religion and culture. The Chair is currently consulting on these draft terms; however, the Home Secretary has made clear that the inclusion of ethnicity, religion and culture is not subject to change.