PM calls for action on Telford child sex inquiry
The Prime Minister has told organisers of a public inquiry into child sex abuse in Telford to launch the investigation as soon as possible.
Theresa May voiced concerns about the delay in setting up the inquiry, which is being run on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council.
Mrs May was responding to a question from Telford MP Lucy Allan during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.
She said she would arrange for a meeting between Miss Allan and a Home Office minister to discuss why the inquiry was taking so long.
Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, had voiced similar concerns in the Commons the day before.
Ms Allan told Mrs May: "Almost a year ago the authorities in Telford agreed to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation in our town.
"The promised inquiry has not happened. There is no chairperson, no start date, it hasn't happened.
"Does my right honourable friend agree that the failure to hold the promised inquiry lets down victims, survivors and members of our community, and that the Telford authorities should not sweep this under the carpet, but start the inquiry now?"
Mrs May said she shared the MP's concerns, saying the crimes were 'utterly appalling'.
"It is very concerning that this inquiry is taking so long to start, having been announced in spring of last year," she said.
"It is in the interests of the victims and survivors that the inquiry is set up and running as soon as possible.
"That's what people deserve, being able to see that his inquiry is taking place."
On Tuesday, Home Office minister Nick Hurd said he agreed with Wrekin MP Mr Pritchard that Telford & Wrekin Council needed to 'get on with the inquiry.'
'She's been thoroughly briefed'
Councillor Lee Carter, a cabinet member at Telford & Wrekin Council, said law firm Eversheds Sutherland had been appointed to handle the inquiry. It was now responsible for selecting a chairman and publishing its terms of reference, he said.
Councillor Carter said he was surprised Ms Allan had raised the matter in this way.
"She has been thoroughly briefed on the process that we are undertaking to ensure that the forthcoming inquiry is as independent as possible," he said.
"It is not always about speed but also getting it right for local people who have been so seriously affected by child sexual exploitation. That is where our priority lies.
"We also find it slightly ironic that the Prime Minister also chooses to comment given that her Government refused our request on a number of occasions to hold a statutory government-led inquiry. We have these refusals in writing.
“We are unable to comment further on these matters. As our MP is aware, the inquiry process is now in the hands of Eversheds Sutherland.”
