Today I am announcing the appointment of Dr Sandie Okoro OBE as Chair of the independent, non-statutory inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Zane Gbangbola.

Zane Gbangbola tragically died at the age of seven in February 2014 at his family home in Chertsey, Surrey. The Prime Minister and I have both met with Zane’s family, and we listened carefully to their concerns about what happened, the response of public bodies at the time, and the treatment they received in the years that followed.

We have decided to commission an independent inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding Zane’s death. This will include how public services and relevant authorities worked together during and after the incident, and how Zane’s family were treated by those organisations. It will be forward-looking in its approach, identifying any lessons that can be learned and making recommendations to improve practice in the future.

The Chair will act independently of Government and will be supported by access to appropriate subject matter and technical expertise. The Government expects all public bodies and individuals engaged by the inquiry to cooperate fully, openly and candidly. Once in force, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, otherwise known as the “Hillsborough Law”, can be drawn upon by all live inquiries, including this one.

The Inquiry’s full terms of reference will be published shortly, and I will place a copy of these in the House Library at the earliest opportunity. The Government is committed to responding publicly to any recommendations made by the Inquiry.

I would like to place on record my heartfelt condolences to Zane’s parents for the loss of their beloved boy, Zane. I also wish to thank them for their continued engagement and reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that this inquiry is conducted thoroughly, independently, and with the seriousness and care that this tragedy deserves.

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