Commons Chamber

Tuesday 21st October 2025

(began 2 hours, 52 minutes ago)

Share Debate
Watch Live
Skip to latest contribution
11:34
11:35
11:35
11:36
None Portrait Q2. What steps he is taking to help improve the performance of the most underperforming NHS trusts. (905902)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Shaun Davies number six, sir. So state. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government has invested an
11:36
11:37
11:37
11:38
11:38
11:38
11:39
11:39
11:39
11:40
11:40
11:41
11:41
11:42
None Portrait Q3. What steps his Department is taking to improve maternity and neonatal care. (905903)
-

Samantha Niblett question number three, please, Mr Speaker.
11:42
11:43
11:43
11:45
11:45
11:45
11:46
11:46
11:47
11:48
11:49
11:49
11:49
11:50
11:50
11:51
None Portrait Q6. What recent progress he has made on reorganising the NHS. (905906)
-

Rebecca Smith thank.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

student at. King's Minister.
11:51
11:52
11:52
11:53
11:53
11:53
11:54
11:55
11:55
11:56
None Portrait Q7. What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of NHS Online on waiting times. (905907)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Minister. Well, hey. Mr Speaker, the NHS. Online hospital will connect patients with.
11:56
11:56
11:57
11:57
11:58
11:58
None Portrait Q8. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for cancer diagnoses. (905908)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Let me stop. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This
11:58
11:59
11:59
12:00
12:00
12:01
12:01
12:02
12:03
None Portrait Q10. What steps his Department is taking to support people with acute myeloid leukaemia. (905910)
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

Number ten, Mr Speaker.
12:03
12:03
12:04
12:05
12:05
12:05
12:07
12:07
12:07
12:07
12:08
12:08
12:10
12:10
12:10
12:10
None Portrait Q14. What steps his Department is taking to tackle wasteful spending in the health service. (905914)
-

Richard Burgon number 14, Mr Speaker,
12:10
12:11
12:11
12:11
12:12
12:12
12:13
12:13
12:14
12:15
12:15
12:15
12:15
12:16
12:16
None Portrait Q17. What steps he is taking to transfer care from hospitals into the community. (905918)
-

Jas Athwal.
12:16
12:17
12:18
12:19
12:19
12:19
None Portrait Topical questions: Health and Social Care
-



**** Possible New Speaker ****

please speak up. So state. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Since I last answered questions in this
12:19
12:20
12:21
12:22
12:22
12:22
12:22
12:23
12:23
12:24
12:24
12:25
12:25
12:26
12:26
12:27
12:27
12:28
12:28
12:30
12:30
12:30
12:30
12:30
12:31
12:31
12:32
12:32
12:33
12:33
12:34
12:34
12:34
12:35
12:36
12:36
12:36
12:36
12:37
12:37
12:37
12:38
12:38
12:38
12:38
12:38
12:39
12:39
12:40
12:41
12:41
12:41
12:41
12:41
12:42
12:43
12:43
12:43
12:44
12:45
12:45
Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
-
-
A A national A national audit A national audit into A national audit into A national audit into group A national audit into group based child sexual exploitation and abuse. These crimes, committed by grooming These crimes, committed by grooming gangs are among the most horrific imaginable. And her report, exposed imaginable. And her report, exposed over a decade of institutional inaction, and we are determined to ensure such failures are never ensure such failures are never repeated. Central to our response is a statutory national inquiry under a statutory national inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, which will oversee local investigations with oversee local investigations with full powers to compel evidence.

It will be time limited to three years to ensure that victims and survivors receive answers swiftly. The inquiry will examine safeguarding systems, will examine safeguarding systems, accountability and intersections with ethnicity, race and culture, identifying failures and good identifying failures and good practice. The inquiry will inquiry will work alongside the national police operation, Operation Beacon Port. The appointment of the Chair is at a critical stage and we hope to confirm the conclusion of this soon. Victims and survivors have been at the heart of this process, with trauma informed opportunities to share their views.

We began engaged with them on the Chair appointment and the terms of reference, which will be shaped by the Chair in consultation, in public, again with stakeholders, as widely reported in the media. Victims and survivors are meeting prospective chairs this week. Today. In fact, this process, contrary to the reporting, was not managed by the Home Office but by an independent child exploitation charity, the SWG. We are gathering views to ensure their perspective. Their perspective remains central. We must avoid delays, as were seen in the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, and are progressing as swiftly as thoroughness allows.

Misinformation undermines this process. Allegations of intentional delay, lack of interest or widening of the inquiry. Scope and dilution are false. The inquiry will remain laser focussed on grooming gangs, as Baroness Casey recommended.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This scandal arose because young, mainly white girls were systematically gang
12:47
Chris Philp Portrait Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)
-
-
white girls were systematically gang raped and this was covered up by those in authority because the perpetrators were mainly of Pakistani origin. So it's all the more shocking that when calls for a national inquiry became public in January, the Prime Minister smeared campaigners as jumping on a far right bandwagon. Comments like that are a disgrace and are what led to this scandal being covered up in the first place. Months later, just two days before facing a vote in Parliament, the government finally agreed to the inquiry.

But it's clear the government never wanted this inquiry. They were forced into it. Perhaps that is why, months later, the government has said nothing substantive publicly and their inquiry is descending into chaos. What we have heard publicly is that victims and survivors on the liaison panel have no confidence in the government and no confidence in the inquiry. In the last 24 hours alone, two have resigned. Fiona Goddard resigned from the panel, saying this. The secretive conduct and conditions imposed on survivors by the government has led to a toxic and fearful environment, with a high risk of people being silenced all over again.

And hours later, Ellie Anne Reynolds also resigned, saying the remit of the inquiry had, and I quote, been widened to downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse. The minister shakes her head. That is what Ellie Anne Reynolds says. Fiona also raised the issue of Savva. Kaisa, who has been acting as a liaison officer on behalf of SWG. Just two years ago, Miss Kaisa described calling out the fact the majority of perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage as, and I quote, destructive, distracting and irresponsible given those frankly appalling views and the complaints about them by survivors, by survivors.

Will the Minister ensure Miss Kaisa plays no further role? Victims and survivors have also questioned the suitability of former police officers or social workers to Chair the inquiry. They do not believe people from the professions which failed them so badly are suitable. So will the Minister accept this feedback and appoint a judge to lead the inquiry? Will the Minister confirm the scope of this inquiry will not be diluted, as both Fiona and Leon say is now happening, and confirm it will focus on the cover up of the rape gang scandal because the majority of perpetrators were of Pakistani origin.

Finally, Fiona said this yesterday I won't be gagged and controlled by the government while they turn this inquiry into a cover up. So will the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Minister apologise to Fiona and to Ian? Mr. What I would say to the
12:50
Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
-
-
honourable gentleman in his is that he didn't listen to my remarks at all, because what suggesting that the government has silenced anybody is that the government has not handled this process. It has been handled by a grooming gang charity, of which he cites of which he cites are names a victim of crime. And look what I will say to the honourable gentleman, which he would know if he had done anywhere near the level of work that I have done, is that not all victims and survivors are of the same opinion.

They are not one homogenous group of people who all think the same thing, who all want the same exposure, who all want their identities known. And so what I would say is that I have spoken to Fiona Goddard many times, and I will continue that relationship with her, should that be what she wishes. And are every single survivor who has been engaged with, of which there have been many, will have different feelings on this subject with regard to him requiring a judge, Baroness Casey said to this House in the Home Affairs Select Committee she did not want a traditional judicial led inquiry.

She was explicit and if anyone in this House can find me an institution that didn't fail these girls over the years, including our courts, who took the children away from the grooming gang victims who criminalised some of them. There is no institution in our country that hasn't failed. We will continue. Today. I will meet with many of the victims and get their feedback, and I will continue to progress. With that in mind, I will engage with all the victims, regardless of their opinions, and I will listen to those that have been put in the media that are put in panels.

I will always

**** Possible New Speaker ****

listen and I will speak to all of them. Ma'am. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Oldham has

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Oldham has stepped forward to take forward a local inquiry, and it's been waiting to understand what the move to the
12:52
12:53
12:53
12:55
12:56
12:57
12:58
12:59
13:00
13:01
13:01
13:02
13:03
13:04
13:05
13:05
13:06
13:07
13:08
13:08
13:09
13:10
13:11
13:12
Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

I'd like to thank the honourable gentleman, because he is in somewhat of a unique category of always asking a question that is genuinely asking a question that is genuinely like it leads me to further questions that I think are pertinent, how the inquiry will report into here, whilst it is ongoing, is not necessarily something that usually happens, but if there, I will take that away and if there is an appetite. But all I can say is there is no institution in the country, this one here that doesn't have skeletons.

Do I think all politicians wouldn't be robust in this? No I don't, I think some would, and I can guarantee that I can point at people, the honourable gentleman included, who would show absolute rigour even against his own, and that that that is. But there isn't a single light with Excel. We had a judge was leading, sir. They lost the confidence of the victims. Three people lost the confidence of the victims. It took two years. Like so. There isn't an institution that didn't fail these girls.

That's the whole point. There is no clean skin. But there are people. Brilliant people. People who whistle blow. People who tried in every one of those institutions. And so that that is essentially where we are left with this. But I promise rigour the same way that when I saw

**** Possible New Speaker ****

what things happening in here, I certainly was rigorous in breath. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I commend
13:13
13:14
13:14
13:15
13:16
13:16
13:18
13:18
13:19
13:20
13:20
13:21
13:21
13:22
13:22
13:23
13:24
13:25
13:25
13:26
13:28
13:28
13:28
13:29
Jess Phillips Portrait Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

So to the first question, I have every power to intervene in the process of how that that panel. But process of how that that panel. But the decision that I made was that it should be independent of me and it should be independent of my offices, and that it would be better handled by experts in this field. So but, you know, when I speak to them, I of course, I can raise those and I can make decisions about how it goes forward.

I very much hope that we will be coming, drawing to a conclusion, and that actually my involvement in it soon will will be much lesser, actually. And to his other question. But victims and survivors of this crime all have different political opinions. All have different views on the substantive. They have different views about whether it should be called grooming, whether it should be called groups. They have different views on all of these things. I will not stand here and say that I would eliminate any victim or survivor based on their political, but that any victim or survivor working on this.

I will continue to say that as it is because of their views, because many of them don't like me very much. Imagine if I just didn't let the people who didn't like me very much not have their voice heard. Or

**** Possible New Speaker ****

frankly, I'd be guilty of a cover up it. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Minister has made it clear that
13:30
13:31
13:32
13:33
13:34
13:34
13:35
13:35
13:35
Jeremy Corbyn Portrait Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North, Independent)
-
-


**** Possible New Speaker ****

House. That's a complete point for the

**** Possible New Speaker ****

That's a complete point for the Jeremy Corbyn order. Mr Speaker, could I invite you to examine Hansard column 652 from yesterday during the exchange about Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters travelling to Aston Villa. In reply to my question, the Secretary of State said she agreed with me about the safety of everyone walking the streets. What went on to say? Perhaps he might make that point to the people he now associates with on his left and right, because that is not what we've heard from them in the last few weeks.

I find the suggestion in that that my colleagues have done anything other than, say, everyone should be able to walk the streets safely in our society. And they were concerned about the danger from football supporters acting in a hooligan way and Aston Villa game. I think the Secretary of State should correct what Mr. Jeremy, come on. And all this back you mentioned, you

**** Possible New Speaker ****

certainly put it on the record. You certainly ensured that the correction and your view. Is there. Well, it doesn't.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Well, it doesn't. Do is. Continuously debate. And, you know, that is a long standing member of this House has got great respect. of this House has got great respect. And I will leave it at that, because you certainly ensure that we're all aware and the correction takes

**** Possible New Speaker ****

aware and the correction takes place. Mims Davies. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Point of order. And following. The.
13:37
13:37
13:39
None Portrait Ten Minute Rule Motion: Cyber Extortion and Ransomware (Reporting)
-

13:40
13:51
None Portrait Legislation: Committee of the whole House on the Sentencing Bill
-

13:51
Feed Live - Click to view video
Return to start of debate - Return to top of page