TWO Scots will spearhead the Government-commissioned independent inquiry which will examine claims of historical child sex abuse and whether powerful political figures tried to cover it up.

The City of London's Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf, who was born and raised in Edinburgh, will chair the inquiry after Baroness Butler-Sloss stepped down in July amid questions over potential conflicts of interest as her brother was attorney general when some of the events being investigated are said to have taken place.

Professor Alexis Jay, the former chief social work advisor to the Scottish Government who wrote the recent report into abuse in Rotherham, will act as an expert adviser to the panel, said the Home Office.

Her damning Rotherham report outlined details of exploitation over a 16-year period and gave examples of girls whose plights were ignored by the statutory authorities.

The new inquiry will also examine allegations that police and other authorities did not properly investigate prominent offenders such as BBC presenter Jimmy Savile and Cyril Smith, the former MP for Rochdale, both of whom are now dead.

"In recent years, we have seen appalling cases of organised and persistent child sex abuse which have exposed serious failings by public bodies and important institutions," said Home Secretary Theresa May.

"We are absolutely clear that we must learn the lessons of past failures and the panel will be instrumental in helping us to do this."

Ms Woolf, 66, a tax lawyer, has advised several governments and the World Bank on privatisation and energy reforms. As Lord Mayor of London, she acts as an ambassador for the city's financial district, a job separate to that of London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Critics said Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss was unsuitable because she is the sister of the late Michael Havers, the government's chief legal adviser in the 1980s when some of the abuse cases are alleged to have taken place.

Mrs Woolf, a former president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said she was honoured to be appointed. "Ensuring lessons are learned from the mistakes which have been made and resulted in children being subjected to the most horrific crimes is a vital and solemn undertaking," she said.