00:00Mr. Speaker, four victims on the Rape Gang Survivors Panel have resigned.
00:04And they've resigned because they've lost all confidence in the government's inquiry.
00:10So I'm giving my first question to one of them, to Fiona.
00:14She said, being dismissed and contradicted by a minister when you're telling the truth
00:21takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again.
00:28Fiona's question is simple.
00:30What's the point in speaking up if we're just going to be called liars?
00:34Prime Minister.
00:36Can I thank her for raising that on behalf of Fiona?
00:38And let me give Fiona and the House my answer, Mr Speaker,
00:42because the grooming scandal was one of the worst scandals of our time.
00:47Women and girls were abused and exploited by predatory gangs of men.
00:52And survivors have been ignored for many years,
00:56including by the state that, of course, is supposed to protect them.
01:00My vow to Fiona and them is that this national inquiry will change that.
01:06I do acknowledge that in recent days, some members, including Fiona,
01:09have decided to step away from the panel.
01:12I say this, Mr Speaker, should they wish to return, the door will always be open.
01:18But even if they do not, we owe it to them and to Fiona and to the country to answer the concerns that they have raised.
01:27The inquiry is not and will never be watered down.
01:31Its scope will not change.
01:34It will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders.
01:37And we will find the right person to chair the inquiry.
01:42I can tell the House today, Mr Speaker, that Dame Louise Casey will now support the work of the inquiry.
01:49And it will get to the truth.
01:52Injustice will have no place to hide.
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