Scottish Redress

On 30 January 2019, the Scottish Government expanded on its commitment to introduce a financial redress scheme for survivors of childhood abuse in care in Scotland.

The commitment, made to the Scottish Parliament on 23 October 2018, is for legislation to be introduced before the end of the current parliamentary term in 2021, with advanced payments for survivors who may not live long enough to apply to the statutory scheme.

The extra detail now provided is that:

• there will be a full public consultation on the proposed statutory scheme later in 2019
• careful consideration will be given to any opportunities to bring forward the long-stop legislative deadline of 2021
•  advanced or “fast track” payments may be made “from April 2019”.

 Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry continues to hear evidence at Phase 3 of its public sessions. Phase 4, looking at residential child care establishments run by male religious orders, is due to start in summer 2019.

From October 2015 to December 2018, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has cost £19,737,688.  

Authors Frank Hughes, partner and Fiona McEwan, associate