Parliament

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.

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.

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.