SCOTLAND
Holyrood
Written by Jenni Davidson on 23 June 2017
A bill lifting the time limit on damages for child abuse cases has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.
MSPs unanimously voted to approve the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill yesterday.
The bill removes the current three-year limitation period for personal injury actions in cases of child abuse where the person was under 18 at the time of the abuse.
It will apply to all cases of child abuse after 26 September 1964.
The aims of the bill have attracted broad support, but some concerns have been raised about the potential costs to organisations such as councils, religious organisations and charities of paying out compensation for a large number of historic cases.
In its submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee, local government umbrella body COSLA said: “COSLA supports the intent of the legislation is and is clear that removing any barrier to justice for survivors of historical childhood abuse is a positive move.
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