House of Commons · Urgent Question
28 April 2025 · 28 other contributors
Opened by Chris Philp Con Croydon South
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Chris Philp raised concerns about child rape gangs 2025-04-28 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm that a national statutory public inquiry will be established to investigate the child rape gangs scandal? The MP highlights cases of systemic abuse, cover-ups by authorities due to perpetrators' backgrounds, and calls for transparency and accountability. He mentions local inquiries' limitations and emphasises the need for a thorough investigation.
Question
Does the Minister agree that action is needed following Professor Jay's efforts to get previous Governments to act on her recommendations?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary has written to all police forces seeking more arrests in these cases. The current Government surpassed previous years' arrest numbers, focusing on holding perpetrators accountable.
Question
Will the Minister set out a clear timetable for implementing Professor Jay's recommendations and agree to a duty of candour via a Hillsborough law?
Minister reply
A Government plan has been published with action on the Jay report, but full implementation will take years. A duty of candour is needed for transparency and accountability in inquiries.
Question
Can the Minister provide more information about the remit of the child protection authority announced before recess?
Minister reply
The new authority will ensure accountability across the child protection system, consulting experts to define its role in clamping down on child rape gangs and similar crimes.
Question
When can we expect information about the remaining four locations for local inquiries? What measures will be taken to compel reluctant councils?
Minister reply
The Government has committed to five locations but expects to go further. No specific timeline is provided.
Question
How does the Minister envisage the child protection authority working, and how will victims of crime be supported by it?
Minister reply
The new authority aims to ensure that the needs of victims are prioritised. Consultation with experts such as NSPCC ensures practical implementation rather than theoretical measures.
Question
Does the Minister believe that victims and families across Keighley and Bradford district deserve a full rape gangs inquiry, and what powers will she use if local authorities continue to ignore victims' wishes?
Minister reply
The Minister guarantees to meet with victims and commits to pursuing local authorities found to have problems in Baroness Casey's report.
Question
Does the Minister agree that priorities include cutting court backlogs, ensuring long-term funding for groups like St Mary’s sexual assault referral centre, and recognising that most sexual abuse is perpetrated by family or friends?
Minister reply
The Minister agrees with all of these asks and acknowledges the importance of addressing ongoing grooming issues while working to improve the broken system.
Question
Why does the Minister refuse to support a full national public inquiry on Pakistani grooming gangs, implying potential involvement in cover-ups?
Minister reply
The Minister refutes accusations of being part of any cover-up and commits to ensuring accountability for those responsible.
Question
Does the Minister think social media companies are doing enough, and does she believe police understand the nature of online grooming?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges ongoing issues with online grooming and supports focused police enforcement on this matter.
Question
How will local inquiries proceed if councils lack funding or wish not to participate, and could the law be changed to compel evidence in such cases?
Minister reply
The Minister commits to following leads as they unfold, noting increased Government funding compared to previous allocations.
Question
Will the Minister support work to prevent heinous crimes from happening again in the future while bringing perpetrators to justice?
Minister reply
The Minister commits to ensuring that children who come forward today are not subjected to the same treatment as victims of past failures.
Question
Will resources be available for people coming forward from local inquiries, addressing mental health support and other necessary provisions?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms the doubling of funding for adult historic rape victims to improve access to support.
Question
Does the Government commit to building trust with victims and survivors, focusing on tackling violence against women and girls?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms the focus on systemic issues and cultural changes necessary to ensure victims are believed.
Question
What steps are being taken by her Department to learn from healthcare practitioners who were active at the time of these crimes?
Minister reply
I am committed to ensuring that we listen to healthcare workers, such as Sara Rowbotham, who have firsthand experience. A mandatory duty to report will be introduced, and the culture must change to ensure people are heard.
Question
Will the Minister commit today to engaging in a co-operative manner with the privately launched rape gang inquiry?
Minister reply
I am willing to meet and cooperate with anyone genuinely seeking to stop grooming gangs, including the hon. Gentleman.
Question
Could she elaborate on whether she expects the Casey review to include a framework for conducting local inquiries?
Minister reply
The audit by Baroness Casey will not provide a framework, but an expert panel is working on it, and details of the fund will be published in May.
Question
What plan does she have to ensure that those who covered up these crimes are held accountable?
Minister reply
I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I will support efforts within legal frameworks to hold accountable those who covered up such crimes.
Question
Does she have my full support on introducing mandatory reporting for suspected sexual abuse?
Minister reply
Thank you, I appreciate your support. The Labour Government will implement this recommendation.
Question
Does the Minister agree that our focus must be on supporting victims and stopping perpetrators without fanning hate towards innocent groups?
Minister reply
Of course, I agree. We will follow the facts to ensure accountability while avoiding prejudice.
Question
Can the Minister confirm whether online group-based sexual exploitation of children will form part of Baroness Casey's report?
Minister reply
Group-based grooming, including British children being groomed from abroad and vice versa, is a priority for the Government. It forms part of our strategy to prevent child sexual abuse.
Question
Why is the Minister unwilling to seek justice through a national statutory inquiry?
Minister reply
Local inquiries must be independent. They are not run by local authorities, ensuring independence and thoroughness.
Question
Will she give further examples of what areas can do to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice?
Minister reply
The grooming gangs taskforce works with local police forces, leading to 1,100 more arrests for group-based child sexual abuse since its establishment.
Question
Is there something out of kilter with the Government’s approach when they are spending millions on a public inquiry but denying one to child rape gangs?
Minister reply
I will not comment on the second point, but I encourage the hon. and learned Gentleman to read the existing 200-page document on group-based child sexual abuse.
Question
What work is being done in advance of mandatory reporting to ensure professionals can change victims' lives for the better?
Minister reply
We are working with professional bodies to prepare for mandatory reporting, ensuring that professionals are ready to support victims effectively.
Question
This is clearly a deeply distressing topic that affects the whole House, and I fully accept that the Minister is affected as much as anyone. That being said, it is not clear to me why we would not do absolutely everything within our power to get to the bottom of this, and that includes a full national inquiry with all the powers that come with it. Will the Minister please explain to me why we will not have that inquiry, and why she sees having one as capitulating?
Minister reply
What we have proposed is better because it is about acting now in areas where it is needed. We have already had a national inquiry, which took seven years and wrote a 200-page dossier on group-based sexual abuse—[Interruption.] There was a 200-page dossier specifically on that, and it took two years just to do that, and it made really good recommendations. I genuinely believe that the best thing for me to do is crack on with them.
Question
Will the Minister provide assurances from the Dispatch Box as to how the Government will compel councils—like Bradford, which has refused to participate in this inquiry or in a local inquiry—to take part? It may seem self-evident, but councils that are liable for child protection and that are found at fault are probably not going to want to participate in a local inquiry. That is why we are asking for a national inquiry. Will the Minister please set out what the Government are going to do to compel those councils to give evidence so that justice can be served for the victims?
Minister reply
I will wait for the review being undertaken by Baroness Casey and look at what it tells me, and then I will act on that.
Question
I thank the Minister for her honest answers. She has spoken a number of times on this issue, and I thank her for her care and consideration of the matter. She will know that I always try to be respectful but my question is one that has to be asked. It remains clear that there is a public perception that the Government are drawing a line under actions that simply do not deserve to be forgotten. In order to learn the lessons of these dreadful actions, we need a full and open investigation. The Government must pacify the general public. We have an obligation to society, and even more so to the vulnerable. Will the Minister confirm the investigation that the public and Members of this House believe the scale of these issues warrants?
Minister reply
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s desire to always be respectful. I shall pay it back in kind and say that there is absolutely no way that the Government wish for the past to be forgotten or for a line to be drawn. That is absolutely the opposite of what I want. I want every single perpetrator rounded up and locked up; I want every single victim to feel supported; and I want everybody who covered these actions up to be held accountable for that—[Interruption.] I can hear chuntering from the shadow Home Secretary, who does not always show respect. There is this idea that people are held accountable by public inquiries, but that is not the case; nobody has gone to prison following the Hillsborough inquiry. Has anyone gone to prison as a result of the infected blood inquiry? No. Hon. Members should be careful about what they are promising can be achieved.
Government Response
People are horrified by the crimes committed by grooming gangs, with children subjected to sexual violence. The Government is addressing this by pressing ahead with key recommendations from the independent inquiry on child sexual abuse, including a mandatory duty to report and support local inquiries. Baroness Casey’s audit will conclude soon, identifying further work needed. Police forces review historical cases for reopening investigations. Funding supports five local inquiries, but no specific details about four remaining locations have been provided.