Health minister Karin Smyth said the Government is committed to implementing the recommendations from Professor Alexis Jay’s report on child sexual abuse.
Asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain whether there will be a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, she said: “We’ve had the Alexis Jay inquiry, which, as as you know, took seven years, cost millions of pounds, and those 20 recommendations that she made were not implemented by the last government.
“So our approach has been to take those recommendations… we are committed to implementing those and working across Government.
“It is difficult to make sure that that happens, but we have the great leadership and experience of both Keir Starmer making sure that happens, and my colleague, Jess Phillips, and others who’ve got direct experience of making sure that these evil perpetrators are brought to justice and that victims are supported.
“So we want to support those people to have their voices heard and to make sure that the lessons are learned and those recommendations are implemented.”
She added: “I expect that the Prime Minister and others will be asked about that further.
“But it’s a big report, seven years’ worth of work. We need to get on with implementing those recommendations.
“Alexis Jay did such great work with victims to make sure their voices were heard in that report.
“They deserve that their voice is being heard, and they deserve those recommendations to be implemented, and that’s the work that we’re getting on with.”
