article: It was "not enough" for Dame Lowell Goddard to resign and leave, said Home Affairs Committee chairman Keith Vaz. He called for a "thorough explanation", and said the "only way" to move forward was to hear from Justice Goddard. The New Zealand judge has not yet given full reasons, but she said conducting such an inquiry was "not an easy task". Campaign groups said a replacement was needed "urgently" after Justice Goddard became the third inquiry head to quit. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the inquiry would continue "without delay" and in the absence of a new chair. The inquiry was announced in July 2014 to examine claims of abuse made against public and private institutions in England and Wales. BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said several sources had told him there had been "tension" within the inquiry, with one suggesting Justice Goddard felt she was not getting the support and "loyalty" her job required. The inquiry is meant to support victims and survivors of sexual abuse, and Mr Vaz said it was important to reassure them in the wake of Justice Goddard's resignation. He said he would write to ask her to appear before MPs to explain her reasons. There was "no better person" to tell MPs what progress the inquiry now needed to make, he said. Mr Vaz said Justice Goddard's resignation was an opportunity to look at the "whole shape" of the inquiry - including its purpose, logistics and costs. In a statement, Justice Goddard said she was "confident there have been achievements and some very real gains for victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in getting their voices heard". She said she took on the role because of her "relevant experience and track record in the area" but admitted that running the inquiry had been difficult. "Compounding the many difficulties was its legacy of failure which has been very hard to shake off and with hindsight it would have been better to have started completely afresh," she said. She added that accepting the job had been "an incredibly difficult step to take, as it meant relinquishing my career in New Zealand and leaving behind my beloved family". The Times reported that Justice Goddard had spent more than 70 days working abroad or on holiday during her time in charge. An inquiry spokesman said the 67-year-old, who was appointed in April 2015, had spent 44 days in New Zealand and Australia on inquiry business and was entitled to 30 days' annual leave. Tom Symonds, BBC home affairs correspondent One source with knowledge of the inquiry's operations said they did not believe Dame Lowell's departure was linked to the disruption caused to her family life by moving to the UK. This source said she had moved fully to this country from her native New Zealand, including buying furniture. Her husband is understood to be in Britain too. Members of the victims and survivors consultative panel, a body which advises the inquiry, have praised her relationship with those who've suffered the effects of child abuse. But there are
summary: The chairwoman of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has been asked to appear before MPs to explain why she has resigned.