Skipton and Ripon MP, Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE, has called for genuine apologies and compensation for survivors of institutional sexual abuse.
On 8 April, during a Commons Statement on Child Sex Abuse, Julian highlighted the importance of addressing the failures of institutions in providing sincere apologies and adequate support to survivors.
Julian asked the Minister, "I welcome the mandatory reporting progress. I think it is also worth acknowledging the Bill that I led through the House, that has now paid out £100 million in Northern Ireland to survivors of institutional sexual abuse and also the fact that during the progress of that Bill, and the discussions I had there, the mealy-mouthed apologies from institutions was abhorrent. So could I urge the Rt Hon lady to push very hard on church institutions and other institutions to make sure they pay and they apologise.”
The Safeguarding Minister, Jess Phillips, responded by committing to pushing institutions to make genuine apologies and acknowledging the limitations of insincere apologies.
You can watch Julian’s question and the Minister's response here.