Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Inquiry: Grooming Gangs

Monday 7 July 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Lamont asked the Minister about discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the national inquiry into grooming gangs.
  • Katie Lam asked the Minister if every town and city with a grooming and rape gang would be part of the inquiry, regardless of local authorities' willingness to participate.
  • The Minister stated that whether local authorities wish to be involved is not up for debate; the inquiry's scope will be decided by the chair of the inquiry.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Policing & Resources Scotland Safeguarding & DBS
Context

The Scottish Government announced a national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. There are concerns that the inquiry may not cover Scotland due to devolved responsibilities.

Question

Whether she has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)

Child protection and policing are devolved to the Scottish Government. We regularly engage with them on a range of issues, including the national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse that was announced by the Government. Officials met to discuss the Government’s approach to the national inquiry, its remit, and the expectation that relevant findings and lessons learned will be shared with the devolved Administrations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify whether the inquiry will extend to Scotland or how victims across all parts of the UK will receive justice.

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Q2 Katie Lam Con Weald of Kent
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Senior Scottish advocate Sandra Brown has warned that grooming gangs could be operating in every town and city in Scotland. The current inquiry's scope is unclear.

Question

Can the Minister confirm for us today that every town and city with a grooming and rape gang will be part of the inquiry, including where local authorities may not wish to be involved?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)

Whether a local authority wishes to take part is not up for debate. The inquiry will be decided by the chair of the inquiry, as would happen in a statutory independent inquiry. We have to live by the recommendations of those inquiries.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm whether all areas will be included regardless of local authority preference and did not address the previous vote against mandatory reporting and making grooming an aggravated factor.

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