Reports & recommendations
107 recommendations from 16 reports, each with the government response on the record. Filter by government response, report, nation or delivery status.
Reports (16)
Recommendations (5)
Westminster whistleblowing policies for CSA
Government, political parties and other Westminster institutions must have whistleblowing policies and procedures which cover child sexual abuse and exploitation. Every employee must be aware that they can raise any concerns using these policies and that the policies are not limited to concerns specific to a person's employment.
In September 2020, HM Government reported that all government departments had whistleblowing policies in place, supported by a civil service model policy that specifically covers the abuse or mistreatment of children (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020; Cabinet Office, Sep 2020). It stated in September 2020 that parliamentary procedures remain a matter for both Houses, while noting that an additional cross-government campaign was planned for 2021 (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020). The record holds no update since the government's response of September 2020 (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020).
Government department safeguarding policy reviews
The Cabinet Office must ensure that each government department reviews its child safeguarding policy or policies in light of the expert witness report of Professor Thoburn. There must also be published procedures to accompany their policies, in order that staff know how to enact their department's policy. All government departments must update their safeguarding policies and procedures regularly, and obtain expert safeguarding advice when doing this.
In September 2020, HM Government reported that all departments had been made aware of the recommendation and that Civil Service HR had launched a model safeguarding policy and a "Health Check" process (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020; Cabinet Office, Sep 2020). It stated that a review of departmental use of these tools was planned for later that year (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020). The record holds no update since the Cabinet Office's response of September 2020 (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020; Cabinet Office, Sep 2020).
Political party safeguarding policies
All political parties registered with the Electoral Commission in England and Wales must ensure that they have a comprehensive safeguarding policy. All political parties must also ensure that they have procedures to accompany their policies, in order that politicians, prospective politicians, staff and volunteers know how to enact their party's policy, which must be published online. All political parties must update their policies and procedures regularly, and obtain expert safeguarding advice when doing this. The Electoral Commission should monitor and oversee compliance with this recommendation.
The Inquiry recommended that political parties publish safeguarding policies overseen by the Electoral Commission. In September 2020, HM Government agreed that political parties should maintain child safeguarding and whistleblowing policies alongside procedures, advising parties to consult experts and publish their policies online (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020). However, it stated that the commission lacked expertise in child safeguarding legislation and was not an appropriate regulator of these procedures (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020; Cabinet Office, Sep 2020). It added that transparency would support public scrutiny, reflecting its position that individual parties should establish codes of conduct setting expectations for member behaviour (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of September 2020 (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020).
Honours forfeiture for CSA convictions
The criteria for forfeiture of all honours must be formally extended to include convictions, cautions and cases decided by trial of the facts involving offences of child sexual abuse. This must be set out in a published policy and procedure, which must include a clear policy on how forfeiture decisions are made public. The Inquiry expects the Forfeiture Committee to take a lead on this matter.
The Inquiry asked the Cabinet Office to extend honours forfeiture criteria to child sexual abuse offences. In guidance updated in December 2025, the department specified forfeiture criteria covering sexual offences convictions and determinations following a trial of the facts, though cautions were not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Dec 2025). Previously, in September 2020, HM Government stated that the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals was conducting an in-depth review of forfeiture policy (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020; Cabinet Office, Sep 2020).
Posthumous honours forfeiture policy
The Cabinet Office should re-examine the policy on posthumous forfeiture, in order to consider the perspectives of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.
The Inquiry asked the Cabinet Office to re-examine posthumous honours forfeiture policy. In September 2020, HM Government stated in a response published by the department that the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals was taking forward an "in-depth review of forfeiture policy in this area" (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020; Cabinet Office, Sep 2020). It explained that policy changes are made on advice from the committee and stated that it would keep the Inquiry informed of progress (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020). The response described a review of forfeiture policy, while posthumous forfeiture and the perspectives of victims and survivors were not mentioned in the sources (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of September 2020 (Cabinet Office response, Sep 2020).