Scottish Government launches pre-Legislative Consultation on Financial Redress for Historical Child Abuse in Care
The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation seeking views on the design of a statutory financial redress scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care.
This consultation, aimed at individuals and organisations, asks questions about the detailed design of a statutory financial redress scheme for Scotland and wider related issues. The Scottish Government is keen to hear the views from as many people as possible, including survivors, on how a scheme might be delivered.
This consultation asks questions about:
- the design of a financial redress scheme
- who will make financial contributions to the cost of delivering the scheme
- how the scheme will be delivered
- how redress might fit alongside acknowledgement, apology and support.
The consultation builds on the findings of an earlier consultation carried out by CELCIS and the InterAction Action Plan Review Group with survivors in 2017, and the views and recommendations from the earlier consultation form the starting point for this consultation.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:
"Scotland has joined a small but growing number of countries facing up to the wrongs of the past.
"Responding to the harm done to children in care by those trusted to look after them is the right thing to do. I know that nothing can make up for what happened, but along with other measures to help survivors, financial redress is an important step.
"Getting the design of a financial redress scheme right is of the utmost importance if it is to give survivors the acknowledgement they need and deserve. That is why I encourage everyone to have their say by taking part in the consultation."
Helen Holland, chair of In Care Abuse Survivors group (INCAS), said:
"We encourage all survivors to participate in the public consultation. It is important their voices are heard."
David Whelan, spokesperson for Former Boys and Girls Abused in Quarriers, said:
"We welcome the very positive steps that the Scottish Government has taken to commit to implementing a redress scheme for former residents abused in the past care system.
"The severe harm, damage and trauma inflicted and its impact on former residents abused, as highlighted in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, simply cannot be quantified in monetary terms. A redress scheme, that is fair and reasonable, will go some way to help survivors rebuild their shattered lives."
This consultation is a necessary part of the pre-legislative process for the Scottish Parliament to consider and approve draft legislation.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks and closes on Monday 25 Nov 2019.
If you need help
For further information contact: email: redress@gov.scot, telephone: 0300 24 42242, post: Redress and Survivor Relations Division, Scottish Government, 2A South Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.
If thinking about redress and this consultation is causing immediate distress Breathing Space and the Samaritans can provide help.
Breathing Space: Call free of charge on 0800 83 85 87, Monday to Thursday from 6pm to 2am, weekend from Friday at 6pm to Monday morning at 6am.
Samaritans: Call free of charge on 116 123 from the UK, any time of the day or night.