"Opposition MSPs have accused Constance of misrepresenting UK grooming gangs expert Prof Alexis Jay when she said that the academic "did not support further inquiries" into child sexual abuse and exploitation. The Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats are backing motions of no confidence in the minister. While Constance has insisted she gave an accurate account of Prof Jay's views, her critics say newly published emails between the government and the academic show parliament was misled."
"However, emails released by the government show Prof Jay clarified in September that she made that comment "in the context of the England and Wales Public Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse, which I chaired". She added: "It had nothing to do with [the Conservative] amendment, or the position in Scotland, as could be interpreted from your statement." The academic said she believed that Scottish ministers "should urgently take steps to establish reliable data about the nature and extent of child sexual exploitation by organised networks"."
Calls emerged for the sacking of Justice Secretary Angela Constance after accusations that she misled parliament about Prof Alexis Jay's views on further inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation. Opposition MSPs claimed Constance misrepresented Jay by saying the academic did not support further inquiries, leading to no-confidence motions from Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats. Government-released emails show Jay clarified her comment referred specifically to the England and Wales public inquiry she chaired, not the Scottish amendment or position. Jay urged Scottish ministers to urgently establish reliable data on organised-network child sexual exploitation. First Minister John Swinney defended Constance, saying the remarks had been clarified.
Read at www.bbc.com
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