John responds to announcement of an inspection into Rotherham council

John met Ministers from the Department of Communities and Local Government this week before the inspection was announced.

Responding to Eric Pickles’ announcement, he said:

“I welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to set up an independent inspection of Rotherham Council. We know from the Jay report that there have been serious failings at the council over the years. The priority for the new council leader Paul Lakin must be on improving the way we look after vulnerable children in our town, and this inspection should help make sure this happens.

“This inspection must not shy away from the difficult lessons that need to be learned about what went wrong in Rotherham, and why. I also welcome Ministers’ intention to use this inquiry to help make sure the same grave past failings in Rotherham are not being repeated elsewhere.”

The written ministerial statement from Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, can be read here: http://bit.ly/1pTAPZe.