Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department was first notified by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that an allegation of sexual assault had been made against Ben Emmerson QC.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Independent Inquiry informed the Home Office on 28 September of concerns about Ben Emmerson’s leadership of the counsel team which did not include reference to an alleged sexual assault. It was made clear that no complaint had been made.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates meetings were held between Dame Lowell Goddard and officials of her Department between the date of her appointment as chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the date of her departure from that position.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Dame Lowell Goddard met with the Permanent Secretary on the following dates between the date that her appointment commenced on 6 April 2015 and resignation on 4 August 2016:
• 21 April 2015
• 18 May 2016
The Permanent Secretary set this out in a letter of 28 October to the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee. There was also a meeting between Dame Lowell Goddard and the former Minister for Preventing Abuse, Exploitation and Crime on 7 December 2015 at which Home Office officials were also present.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what correspondence she has received from legal counsel for the independent investigation into child sexual abuse relating to the conduct of (a) Dame Lowell Goddard and (b) Ben Emmerson QC between the date of their appointment to the inquiry and the dates of their departure.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was established under the Inquiries Act 2005 on 12 March 2015. Dame Lowell resigned as chair of the Inquiry on 4 August 2016. Ben Emmerson QC resigned as counsel to the Inquiry on 29 September 2016.
The Home Secretary has received no correspondence from Counsel to the Inquiry relating to the conduct of either Dame Lowell or Mr Emmerson between the dates of their appointment to the Inquiry and the dates of their departure.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when (a) she and (b) her Department's officials have met John O'Brien, Secretary of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse since his appointment to that position.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Home Secretary has not met the Secretary to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Home Office officials meet regularly with the Secretary to the Inquiry as part of the sponsorship responsibilities.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department was consulted by staff working for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on that Inquiry's decision to procure the services of an external facilitator to assist in addressing tensions between Dame Lowell Goddard and other inquiry officials.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Home Office was not consulted on the Inquiry's decision to procure the services of an external facilitator.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who from her Department was involved in the recruitment process for the appointment of Dame Lowell Goddard to the post of chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; and what the names were of the people on the interview panel.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Permanent Secretary at the Home Office advised the Home Affairs Select Committee on 18 October of the processes through which Dame Lowell Goddard was recruited.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date she first became aware that allegations of racism had been made against Dame Lowell Goddard in her capacity as Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; and who made her aware of those allegations.
Answered by Sarah Newton
No such allegations have ever been raised with the Home Secretary.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department sought legal advice in relation to the departures of Dame Lowell Goddard and Ben Emmerson QC from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Provision of advice from legal advisers is subject to legal privilege.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on work by Ben Emmerson QC for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse during the period since he left his post as senior lawyer on that inquiry; and if she will publish a breakdown of those costs.
Answered by Sarah Newton
On 12 March 2015 the former Home Secretary established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Inquiry is independent of the Government and is responsible for the management of its own budget and the publication of its own financial reports.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what correspondence she has received from members of the panel of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on the conduct of Dame Lowell Goddard between her appointment as Chair and the date of her departure from that position.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Secretary of State did not receive any correspondence from panel members on the conduct of Dame Lowell Goddard between her appointment as Inquiry Chair and the date of her departure.