*British Home Secretary Suella Braverman informs the Commons the compensation scheme is a landmark commitment, as Members of Parliament urge her not to delay introducing the necessary reforms in the country
Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect
Suella Braverman, Home Secretary in the United Kingdom (UK), has announced that thousands of victims of child sexual abuse “let down by institutions in the past” will be eligible for a payout, under the new scheme.
The British Home Secretary disclosed that a national compensation scheme for victims of child sexual abuse would be introduced in England.
Braverman said the thousands of victims “let down by institutions in the past” will be eligible for the fixed term compensation, paid by the Government, The Telegraph UK report noted.
ConsumerConnect also learnt the arrangement for compensation was recommended by the seven-year independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), which reported October 2022.
The Home Secretary told the Commons it was a landmark commitment but acknowledged it would take time to set up – as MPs urged her not to delay introducing the necessary reforms.
also explained: “It will mark a step-change in our approach to child sexual abuse. we need to and we will get it right, and if that takes time that is time well spent.
“I do not want to give victims and survivors the false impression that implementing these big commitments will just happen overnight.”
The further told the Commons: “But what I can promise them is today heralds a new start, it signifies a change in direction and it represents an acknowledgement of what they’ve been through, of what they’ve testified and the work of this inquiry.”
The £186.6 million inquiry, set up 2015, had examined 15 areas scrutinising institutional responses to child sexual abuse, including investigations into abuse in Westminster and the church, and over 7,000 victims took part.
The IICSA, in making the recommendation, said applicants to the scheme should have experienced abuse “where there is a clear connection to state or non-state institutions,” report said.
In making the case for a redress scheme, the inquiry said there were issues with current civil justice and criminal compensation schemes which often “do not provide the accountability and reparation sought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse”.
The UK Government said that the victims, survivors and charities would be consulted on a number of areas of the scheme, including on who it should support and how non-state institutions should be involved.
But ministers rejected a number of the inquiry’s other recommendations, ruling out calls for a minister for children in the Cabinet, according to report.
The formal Government response, published on Monday, argued that the Education Secretary already “provides a voice at Cabinet for the safeguarding and protection of children and will continue to make sure their voices are consistently heard at Cabinet level”.
The Government also said that while it accepted the need for a stronger safeguarding system, it believed the functions of a recommended Child Protection Authority were already covered by other bodies.
Further measures to report concerns about sexual abuse
Ministers also said the Government is moving “quickly” to introduce a mandatory duty on professionals working with children to report concerns about sexual abuse, with a 12-week consultation launched.
The Home Secretary stressed the need for a “culture change” to tackle abuse.[do_widget id=heateor_sss_sharing-2]