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The UK government would have to pay between £5 billion and £10 billion to compensate thousands of victims of child sexual abuse if it fully implemented recommendations in Professor Alexis Jay's 2022 review, according to Whitehall estimates.
The high price tag helps explain why the recent Conservative government did not implement Guy's recommendations.
Sir Keir Starmer criticized the Conservatives for failing to deliver on Jay's proposals and promised his Labor government would agitate against some of them, including making grooming an aggravating factor in sentencing abuse cases.
But the Prime Minister has yet to back Guy's recommendation for a payment plan that “recognizes the state's responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse and resulting harm over many decades”.
Although she has not estimated the cost of reparations, figures within the Labor government – and the previous Conservative regime – believe it could mean finding between £5bn and £10bn to pay compensation to a large number of victims, not just the grooming gang scandal. . But also to other child abuse scandals.
The publication of the Jay Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in October 2022 was overshadowed by the collapse of the short-lived Conservative administration headed by Liz Truss.
Rishi Sunak's government promised in May 2023 to establish a “compensation scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse” but ministers said they would first launch a “compensation scheme”.Practice broad engagement“Before determining eligibility, types of compensation and application process for the scheme.
The government said at the time that the program would be open to “any victim of child sexual abuse that occurred before its establishment” where there was a “clear link” to government or non-government institutions in England or Wales.
But Sunak's administration did not allocate money to fund the compensation plan before he called a snap general election last summer.
A former Conservative Party official and a Labor figure said they were aware of the initial estimate of nearly £7 billion in damages.
Another person who worked in the Home Office during Sunak's government said there were wider estimates of between £5bn and £10bn for the cost. “We were pushing for it but Rishi didn’t want to do it,” they said. “It has been blocked.”
Sunak's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but one of his allies said Downing Street had in fact pressured the Home Office – led by Suella Braverman at the time – to do more to “deal with Alexis (Jay)” and work out a deal. Delivery plan for its recommendations.
Sunak's ally confirmed the wide range of cost estimates, but said there was never an “accurate figure”.
One veteran from the last government admitted ministers were more focused on the challenge of how to fund compensation for war victims The tainted blood scandal and Horizon Post Office Scandal.
“It was something we were going to do at some point but not right away, there was no evil plan not to do it,” they said. “The report was released at an unfortunate time and may have been forgotten or somewhat downplayed.”
An Interior Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday that the government was focused on achieving “real change” for victims of abuse.
They said: “We are working at pace to review the details of all the recommendations of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, including assessing the costs of implementing them.”
“The Home Secretary has made clear in Parliament his commitments to introduce a mandatory duty on those working with children to report sexual abuse and exploitation, make grooming an aggravating factor for tougher sentences, and improve data collection across forces.”
