Compensation Hope for Scots Victims of Child Abuse in Care

By Mike Wade
The Times
February 22, 2017

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/compensation-hope-for-scots-victims-of-child-abuse-in-care-c5mpcv8ld

Lady Smith, a high court judge, is the only remaining panel member of the Scottish child abuse inquiry

A scheme to compensate victims of in-care child abuse is being considered by Scottish ministers for the first time.

After decades of campaigning by victims’ organisations, John Swinney has acknowledged that financial redress “could play a part in Scotland in the future”.

In a letter to a Holyrood committee, the deputy first minister said that it would be inappropriate to wait until the Scottish child abuse inquiry had been completed before progressing with a compensation scheme. He suggested that a further three-month consultation would be required before ministers could reach a final decision on redress.

There was cautious approval for Mr Swinney’s letter but one leading campaign group said it was considering withdrawing from the inquiry because of the resignation yesterday of a third member…