Home Office Refuses to Appoint Welsh Member to Panel Investigating Child Sex Abuse

By David Williamson
Daily Post
January 7, 2015

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/home-office-refuses-appoint-welsh-8396995

Peter Hain

The Home Office has rejected former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain’s calls for the inquiry into historic child abuse to have a representative from Wales.

Mr Hain accused the Home Office of showing “total disregard” and warned that unless such person was on the panel the it would “fall short of its purpose”.

In November, Mr Hain warned it would be “scandalous” and “mind-boggling” if the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse did not include somebody with in-depth knowledge of specific issues about the care of children in Wales.

However, Liberal Democrat Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone has written to the Neath MP and argued this is “not the only way” the inquiry can draw on Welsh experiences and expertise.

The panel has already been rocked by the withdrawal of Baroness Butler-Sloss and Dame Fiona Woolf as chairs following concern about their establishment links.

Mr Hain said: “‘This response from the minister shows a total disregard for appointing a Welsh representative to in the Independent Panel, as such Wales will be without a voice on this crucial inquiry. Without representation from Wales the inquiry will fall short of its purpose to investigate whether public bodies have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse across England and Wales.”

In her letter, Ms Featherstone states: “I understand your concern about the lack of Welsh representation on the panel. However, whilst I recognise the need for the inquiry to reflect Welsh experiences and expertise, having representation on the panel is not the only way this can be achieved.

“The panel consists of members with a broad range of experience and skills. They have backgrounds in social care, academia, law enforcement, healthcare, the media and the voluntary sector and some have experienced sexual abuse themselves as children.

“I believe the panel can command the confidence of the public and, most importantly, of the survivors of child abuse.”

She continued: “In addition, the panel will need to determine their methodology but we expect them to have advisory groups, particularly where they need advice on areas outside their collective expertise. This is likely to include those with Welsh expertise.

“The new chairman and the panel will be sensitive to the devolved nature of health, education and local government in Wales. We are confident they will work effectively with the Welsh Government, relevant public bodies and with the Welsh survivors to ensure the final report fully engages with the appalling abuse suffered at institutions across England and Wales.

“The Home Secretary is confident that the inquiry will carry out a robust and thorough inquiry, and will challenge individuals and institutions without fear or favour, in order to consider this important issue, to learn the relevant lessons, and to prevent it happening again.”