SCOTLAND
Scotsman
CHRIS MARSHALL
SURVIVORS of historical child abuse have expressed concerns about the future of a long-awaited public inquiry after the Scottish Government postponed a key announcement on its chairperson.
Education secretary Angela Constance had been expected to name the chair and outline the remit of the inquiry in a statement to parliament next week.
But The Scotsman has learned the announcement has now been put off until after the general election, raising fears among campaigners that the scope of the inquiry is to be reduced.
The Scottish Government announced the inquiry in December, which will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.
Alan Draper, the parliamentary liaison officer of In Care Abuse Survivors (Incas), said some survivors were concerned the delay to Ms Constance’s statement was due to the unpopular decision to limit the remit of the inquiry.
He said: “There may be good reasons for [the delay]. It’s been presented to us that it’s to do with the election, but they’ve known about the date of the election for five years. I don’t see that as a good reason.
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