Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date they will announce the appointment of the chair of the national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

We are working urgently to establish the Inquiry and Baroness Casey of Blackstock is supporting this process.

Our immediate priority is appointing a Chair with the credibility and experience to lead the inquiry, ensuring a trauma-informed approach to engaging victims and survivors throughout - from its design to reporting. We aim to announce a Chair as soon as possible.

Under the Inquiries Act, the Minister is responsible for defining the scope and structure of an inquiry. Once a Chair is appointed, in line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair will play a central role in shaping the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference.