The inquiry panel

The NSPCC helpline and ChildLine provide help and support to thousands of adults, children and families, it says on its website. No other charity has access to so many vulnerable children. It is surprising therefore to note that the charity failed to recognise what was going on in Rotherham where 1400 children have been reported to have suffered sexual abuse. The same can be said for many other areas where inquiries have taken place, or are still going on: Where was the NSPCC?

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/fighting-for-childhood/our-services/nspcc-helpline-childline/

Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC is to be part of the inquiry into historical child sex abuse but there are a number of reasons why abuse survivors are not happy about this and one of them is his close association with cabinet ministers. There is a strong sense that this is the beginning of another cover-up of paedophile activity around Westminster.

Then there is Theresa May`s endorsement of Fiona Woolf who is to head the inquiry: "I am confident that she will lead the work of the panel with authority, and that under her leadership the panel will get to the truth of these issues." This is despite the fact that Fiona Woolf has published details of the dinner parties and other engagements she has had with Leon Brittan and his wife. It was Leon Brittan who was in charge of the Home Office in the 1980s when he was handed a file which included allegations of child abuse by senior figures at Westminster. The file has since disappeared.

The terms of reference of the inquiry have been published which are "To consider the extent to which State and non-State institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation; to consider the extent to which those failings have since been addressed; to identify further action needed to address any failings identified; and to publish a report with recommendations." It is not part of the inquiry`s function to determine civil or criminal liability. If the panel become aware of child abuse they will pass the matter to the police who have so far failed to prosecute leading figures at Westminster.

It is interesting to note what is not going to be part of the inquiry. There is no call for witness testimonies from child abuse survivors. Abuse at Kincora boys` home in Ireland will not be covered and neither will be abuse in Jersey and Scotland.

"The Inquiry Panel will cover England and Wales. Should the Inquiry Panel identify any material relating to the devolved administrations, it will be passed to the relevant authorities." And if that should happen it is likely that we will never hear another word about it.

The inquiry’s website can be found at https://childsexualabuseinquiry.independent.gov.uk/
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See also http://alicemooreuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/files-may-never-be-found-says-mp.html: