This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on 20 December 2018, on the motion that this House takes note of the remit of, and arrangements for the handling of evidence by, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (473 KB , PDF)
On 20 December 2018, the House of Lords is scheduled to debate the following motion moved by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour) “that this House takes note of the remit of, and arrangements for the handling of evidence by, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse”.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is an independent inquiry established in February 2015 under the provisions of the Inquiries Act 2005 (the 2005 Act), having its origins in a non-statutory inquiry established in July 2014. The IICSA’s terms of reference 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; to consider the steps which it is necessary for state and non-state institutions to take in order to protect children from such abuse in future; and to publish a report with recommendations.
It is chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE and is structured around three core projects: the truth project, the research project and the public hearings project. The latter of which resembles a conventional public inquiry in which witnesses give evidence on oath and are subject to questioning. In its work the committee will be undertaking 13 investigative strands, examining both themes and institutions. The IICSA has the power to compel individuals to give evidence where it deems it appropriate, as provided for under the 2005 Act and the Inquiry Rules 2006 (the Rules).
This Lords Library Briefing provides background information on the IICSA, followed by information on the provisions of the 2005 Act and the Rules, with a focus on the taking and handling of evidence by statutory inquiries. The briefing also examines the House of Lords Inquiry Act 2005 Committee’s post-legislative scrutiny work and how the IICSA has approached the handling of evidence in its work.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (473 KB , PDF)
The Hares (Closed Season) Bill [HL] would create a closed season during which it would be an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take any hare between 1 February to 30 September each year. It would also repeal the Hares Preservation Act 1892.
![Hares (Close Season) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 52 of 2024–25](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Agriculture-and-farming-568x426.png)
UK prime ministers may draw up a resignation honours list on their departure from office, in which they may request that the reigning monarch grant honours to any number of people. Such honours may include peerages, knighthoods and damehoods, or other awards. However, not all have chosen to draw up such a list. This briefing lists those prime ministers who have requested that peerages be conferred on their departure from office.
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has re-examined relations between the UK government and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following the introduction of new intergovernmental relations structures in January 2022 and its own earlier inquiry on the subject. In a report published in September 2024, the committee urged the government to add a new principle of positive engagement to the principles underpinning the new structures.
