Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Grooming Gangs: National Inquiry

Monday 15 September 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

  • Ministerial questions addressed concerns over the pace of the inquiry into grooming gangs.
  • The Home Secretary committed to doing the inquiry right and properly, following Baroness Casey's recommendations.
  • The Government defended its actions, stating it is implementing key recommendations from previous inquiries through legislation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Cooper Con Dumfries and Galloway
Women & Equalities
Context

The issue of establishing a national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse has been ongoing, with criticism over the slow pace of progress.

Question

It beggars belief that the inquiry inches along at such a dreadfully slow pace. With the Scottish Government ruling out an inquiry there, will the Home Secretary please commit to fast-tracking a thoroughgoing inquiry into the grooming gang scandal, for the sake of the victims?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

For the sake of the victims, who we all think about today, we must ensure that we get this right. There were multiple issues with the chair at the start of Baroness Jay’s inquiry, which took many years. We want to do what Baroness Casey has recommended, do this right and properly, and do this alongside the victims, whom we are talking to. We must, of course, lead the way on this.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment or start date for the inquiry was not provided.

How: We Want To Do This Right And Properly

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Q2 Sarah Bool Con South Northamptonshire
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The Conservatives have been pushing for a national statutory inquiry since January, and there has been criticism over the lack of progress on this issue.

Question

The Government attempted to block our calls for an inquiry until they were forced into a U-turn in June. On 2 September, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department said that 'this Government will not lose any more time in pursuing truth and justice for victims and survivors.' Yet here we stand today—no start date, no chair announced, and no terms of reference agreed. The victims need actions, not words, so will the Minister please tell the victims of these abhorrent crimes when the national inquiry will begin—or will this Secretary of State have to be forced into action, just like the last?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

I will not take any lessons from the hon. Lady, given that the previous inquiry was not implemented in any way, shape or form by the previous Government. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are putting in place Baroness Jay’s key recommendations, which is the right thing to do. It is so important that we make the right decisions about the chair, the terms of reference and the process for this inquiry, which has victims at its heart.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific start date or chair announcement was not provided.

How: I Will Not Take Any Lessons From The Hon. Lady

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