It took the Home Secretary four years before she finally met survivors of child sexual abuse

Yesterday it emerged that victims of alleged historic child sex abuse were withdrawing from the Home Office-led inquiry.

In a letter, the 24 signatories said that the inquiry – which has come under scrutiny after two consecutive chairs of the inquiry (Lady butler-Sloss and Fiona Woolf) had to step down – was “not fit for purpose.”

In light of this, Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Diana Johnson asked whether it was true that throughout her time in office, Home Secretary Theresa May only met with survivors of child sexual abuse on three occasions. And that for her first four years as Home Secretary she didn’t meet with any survivors. Minister of State for the Home Office, Lynne Featherstone MP confirmed that this was, indeed, true.

In response, Johnson criticised May’s conduct, saying:

“Theresa May should be making child abuse a top priority, the fact that she didn’t meet any survivors for the first four and a half years she was Home Secretary shows that it hasn’t been up to now.”

Full text of Johnson’s question and Featherstone’s answer

Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions (a) she, (b) the Minister for Crime Prevention, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green and (c) the previous Minister for Crime Prevention, the hon. Member for Lewes has met survivors of child sexual abuse or representatives of the survivors of child abuse. (215989)

Answer:

The Secretary of State met survivors of child sexual abuse on two occasions on 13 November and 20 November. She also met representatives of the survivors of child sexual abuse on 25 November. This was to seek their views before appointing a new Chairman to the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.