Theresa May: 'No regrets' over Butler-Sloss appointment

Theresa May says she was informed a whistleblower that claimed to know about alleged funding of a paedophile campaign group had chosen not to be interviewed by the Home Office.

Tim Hulbert had told ITV News he was not interviewed during a Home Office probe into claims the department had provided money to the Paedophile Information Exchange.

Ms May told the Home Affairs Select Committee "the information I have got is that he was invited for an interview and then decided not to undertake that", having instead given information to the Metropolitan Police that "could be shared" with the department's investigation.

Read Whistleblower: I was told to 'back off' over paedophiles

Theresa May has defended the decision not to question a whistleblower who claims the Home Office had offered a grant to the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE).

Speaking to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms May said she would respond in writing to questions about the claims made to ITV News by former civil servant Tim Hulbert.

Ms May told the committee a prior review had found no evidence of either direct or indirect funding to the PIE from the department.

However, Labour MP Ian Austin criticised the decision not to interview Mr Hulpert in that review, and accused the Home Secretary of not having "looked into" it fully as she paused during his questioning.

Home Secretary Theresa May has been urged to "take time to consult" over the appointment of Baroness Butler-Sloss' replacement as chair of an inquiry into alleged child abuse.

"We just feel too much is happening too quickly without proper due diligence," Keith Vaz, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee told Ms May in relation to recent appointments into two separate inquiries announced recently.

One MP on the committee said the Home Office should have done more research before appointing Lady Butler-Sloss, who subsequently resigned.

Theresa May has said she was only recently made aware of claims that Baroness Butler-Sloss' late brother was involved in a cover-up of alleged child abuse.

The Home Secretary was asked about allegations former Attorney General Sir Michael Havers urged an MP not to name an alleged paedophile using Parliamentary privilege.

Ms May said the claims had not been made public or brought to her attention before the appointment of Sir Michael's sister Lady Butler-Sloss to head an inquiry into the protection of children from child abuse.

Theresa May has defended the appointment of Baroness Butler-Sloss to the wide-ranging inquiry into allegations of child abuse at a number of institutions.

"I do not regret the decision I made," she told the Home Affairs Select Committee, as she denied chairman Keith Vaz's claim that Lady Butler-Sloss had shown "better judgement" in deciding to stand down.

"I continue to believe that she would have done an excellent job," she said.

Labour MP Tom Watson has told ITV News "the law has to be seen to be done" after Baroness Butler-Sloss' decision to stand down from leadership of an inquiry into allegations of child abuse.

Mr Watson, who campaigned for an inquiry into the claims, said even though Baroness Butler-Sloss "would not be compromised" by any potential relationships she had, her position as chair of the probe would have made it harder for victims to come forward.

The government's "last-minute response" to calls for an inquiry into child abuse has led to Baroness Butler-Sloss' decision to step down as chair of the probe, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has claimed.

Ms Cooper said Lady Butler-Sloss' decision was "the right one" but argued she was put in an "unfair position" by the Home Office, who she claimed had "not managed to address the concerns about either victim confidence or conflict of interest".

"The Government's response to the very serious allegations over child abuse is in danger of losing direction," she added.

"This inquiry now has no chair and no terms of reference and there is considerable confusion over what it will be able to cover, and what the powers of the other investigation into the Home Office and Whitehall will be too."

A new chair of the sex abuse inquiry formerly headed by Baroness Butler-Sloss will be in place by the end of the week, a government source has told ITV News Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship.

The source said despite the speed of the appointment, the decision "will not be rushed".

Labour MP Tom Watson - who petitioned for a national inquiry into child abuse allegations - has told ITV News Baroness Butler-Sloss' background would have made it difficult for victims to come forward.

Lady Butler-Sloss said upon stepping down that she didn't "sufficiently consider" whether her background and her brother's position as Attorney General would "cause difficulties".

Read: Baroness Butler-Sloss steps down from child abuse inquiry

A law firm representing alleged victims of assaults in institutions linked to the child abuse inquiry has welcomed Baroness Butler-Sloss' decision to stand down.

"We are relieved that Lady Butler-Sloss has taken this decision to stand down," Alison Millar of Leigh Day said.

"This was the only sensible decision to ensure that survivors and the public could feel confident that the inquiry was not going to be jeopardised by accusations of bias," she added.