Independent Safeguarding Board Review

Luke Myer, the Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, asked the Government what steps the Church has taken in response to the findings of Sarah Wilkinson's independent review into the Independent Safeguarding Board. In response, Marsha De Cordova, the Government Minister, stated that the General Synod of the Church of England considered the Wilkinson review at its meeting in July 2024. She explained that the Synod has commissioned a detailed analysis of four options for the organisational structure of safeguarding independence, and that the intention is for these options to be presented to the Synod at its next meeting in February 2025, which the Minister hopes to attend. Luke Myer welcomed the Minister to her role and acknowledged that his constituent has been involved in the process. He then asked the Minister if she could help to secure a meeting with his constituent to discuss the findings and the work in more detail. The Minister responded positively, stating that she will do whatever she can to secure a meeting. She also emphasized that there has been much engagement with all the survivors, who have been involved throughout the process. The Minister concluded by saying that she will write to the Member of Parliament to see what can be done to ensure that a meeting is secured.