Setting off from East Midlands airport this morning at 8.30 to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland. We have been asked to contribute to the Inquiry into Sexual Exploitation and today is the launch of the call for evidence for those professionals working with young people, the inquiry is also encouraging parents and young people themselves submit their experience and understanding of the issues.

This was my first opportunity to meet with my colleagues on the inquiry panel and the discussion was lively and fruitful. My colleagues are Kathryn Marshall, lead for the Inquiry, Glenn Houston, Noelle Buick, Brendan McGuigan and Derek Williamson.

The day also included our attending Stormont, to address the Health Committee and speak about the process and timeframe for the inquiry. It is hoped we can have reached a conclusion by this time next year.

Stormont is a beautiful building, standing on a hill, that can be seen from the office on the opposite side of the city where we met first. Inside decorated for Christmas showed its splendour with ornate ceilings and we attended the committee in the room that is said to have made the plans during the war to sink the Bismark! Let’s hope it’s the start of sinking child sexual exploitation into extinction!!!!