00:00 Well these are truly appalling crimes and my thoughts remain very much with the families.
00:04 We wanted to discuss the terms of the inquiry with the families, that's what I have done
00:10 and reflected on the comments that I have made. There's different ways of having inquiries
00:15 which bring advantages and disadvantages. So having discussed that with the families,
00:19 it's clear their preference is for a statutory inquiry and that is what the government will
00:24 now deliver on. So we will have a statutory inquiry into the Letby murders, into the
00:30 events at Chester. That will be a judge-led inquiry as the Prime Minister has confirmed
00:35 and that reflects the wishes of the families which I discussed with them.
00:40 Well there are advantages of having a non-statutory inquiry, particularly around the ability to
00:45 get answers quicker to families, but it doesn't have the same powers in terms of compulsion.
00:50 Now in most non-statutory inquiries, the chairs of those inquiries have said they haven't
00:55 had difficulties having people come forward with evidence, but having discussed it with
01:00 the families, their preference was to have the inquiry on a statutory footing in order
01:05 to have those stronger powers of compulsion. And when I announced that we would have an
01:10 independent inquiry, I was very clear that we would shape that inquiry around the wishes
01:15 of the families. My priority is to ensure that the families get the answers they deserve,
01:20 that people are held to account where they need to be. That's what I've discussed with
01:25 the families and we are reflecting their wishes by having a statutory inquiry.
