Ann Clwyd Presses for Reform to Ensure That Insurance Companies Do Not Hold Back Investigations into Child Abuse
By David Williamson
Veteran Welsh Labour MP Ann Clwyd has called for reform to ensure that insurance companies do not impede investigations into child abuse. The Cynon Valley MP secured a debate in which she said that reports into abuse in homes run by the former Clwyd County Council had been “prevented from publication by the council’s insurers.” She said the council was warned by its insurers that the publication of the Cartrefle Report, the findings of an investigation by Detective Inspector Cronin in the early 1990s “could amount to a waiver of public interest immunity or privilege”. 'It would have sounded alarm bells' The subsequent Jillings inquiry, commissioned in 1994, also hit roadblocks and was not able to access boxes of material handed to the police by the council. Ms Clwyd said: “[The] council did not allow the inquiry to place a notice in the local press seeking information because this was considered to be unacceptable to the insurers. It’s interesting that the insurers of the county council were also the insurers of the North Wales Police.” Describing how the report was then “suppressed”, she said only 12 copies were made and it was “virtually unseen by committee or council members”. She argued that if it had been published “it would have sounded alarm bells and things would have moved much faster”. She added: “It was not until July 2013 that the redacted version of the Jilliings report was finally published after a request by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act.” Recommendations for change not implemented Ms Clwyd said that in July 2004 the Law Commission recommended changes to the law – which have not been implemented – and found “insurers do in practice lean in some way on authorities to prevent publication when reports may reveal admission of liability”. She said: “It is a matter of concern [that] insurance companies can still exert adverse influence on any inquiry or report into complaints about children in the care of local authorities.” The MP said she is concerned that the newly-launched Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse led by Lowell Goddard “may not have access to all previous unredacted local authority inquiry reports”. 'High time' for reform She said: “I think it’s high time, and I hope the minister agrees, that the Government now implement the Law Commission’s recommendations and brings forward a Bill which reforms insurance company influence. I hope that in future any council that wants to publish a report on whatever subject will be protected from its own insurers. “This has not yet been resolved and needs to be put right.” Tribute to whistleblowers The MP added: “Finally I want to pay tribute [to] Alison Taylor, a residential care worker who was one of the first whistle-blowers in Gwynedd, and to councillor Malcolm King, who was chair of social services of Clwyd County Council. They were both outstandingly brave and Alison Taylor was sacked because nobody believed her at the time.” 'Without fear or favour' Justice minister Caroline Dinenage said the “whole statutory framework for inquiries has changed beyond recognition”. She said reports would be available to the inquiries, adding: “The Home Secretary’s independent inquiry into historical child sex abuse will investigate to what extent public bodies and non-state institutions have taken seriously their duty to protect children in England and Wales. The inquiry will challenge institutions and individuals without fear or favour to get to the truth.”
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