“Child sex abuse panel should have representation from Wales” – Mark Drakeford

Wales’ Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford has called on the UK Government to ensure Wales is fully represented on the independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

In a letter to the Home Secretary, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, the Minister has welcomed the appointment of Justice Lowell Goddard to chair the independent Panel, but has repeated calls for the appointment of members “with distinct representation from Wales.”

Mark Drakeford said:

“I welcome the announcement that Justice Lowell Goddard has accepted the Home Secretary’s invitation to chair the independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. I also welcome the decision to place the Inquiry on a statutory basis under the Inquiries Act 2005.

“The role of the Chair and the Panel is fundamental to securing the confidence of the survivors of abuse and for demonstrating that the work of the Inquiry is both inclusive and transparent. It is equally important that clear and coherent arrangements are in place to ensure that those survivors wishing to give evidence are effectively supported and empowered both in presenting their evidence but also subsequently.

“I have again made clear to the Home Secretary our very clear expectation that the panel’s membership and work should be representative of Wales and the landscape within which the devolved and non-devolved agencies have exercised their responsibilities for responding to allegations of abuse from children and the safeguarding framework for preventing that abuse.

“I have reaffirmed in the strongest possible terms, the view of both the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales that the appointment of panel members should include distinct representation from Wales. It has been, for some time, our view that the panel membership lacked experience and understanding of the Welsh context.

“I have asked the Home Secretary to set out, as soon as she is able, her proposals for the appointment of the new panel members and the timeframe within which she proposes to take this forward, as well as her proposals for engaging the Welsh Government in that process.”