A LANDMARK compensation scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care has opened for applications.
Eligible applicants can apply to request an apology and redress payments ranging from £10,000 up to £100,000.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced the scheme was opening in Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon, adding that he hoped survivors and their families can finally “feel a sense of justice”.
Swinney also apologised on behalf of the government for not responding “appropriately or sooner” to calls from survivors to have their concerns investigated and the delay in setting up a public inquiry.
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The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is currently in its seventh phase, after initially being set up in 2015, chaired by Lady Smith.
And now, survivors can finally access financial compensation, with 700 applicants already receiving damages through the advanced payment scheme.
It is understood the fund will be open for at least five years, to give plenty of time for survivors to make their applications. Those who are unsure of whether or not they are eligible can apply for independent legal advice to help them decide.
Swinney told MSPs that as many survivors had sadly died while the scheme was being put in place, it will also be open to their next of kin, with payments of £10,000 available.
He told MSPs of the impact of passing the Redress (Scotland) Act in March would have on survivors.
Swinney said: “I said then that this was one of the most important pieces of legisaltioin that the Scottish parliament would consider in its lifetime and I gave a commitment that Scotland’s redress scheme would open for applications by the end of this year.
“Today we are honouring that commitment and opening the scheme.
“From this afternoon survivors of historical child abuse in care can apply for the redress they deserve.”
He added: “Today the Scottish Gov apologies unreservedly that it did not respond more appropriately and sooner to the concerns of survivors of abuse in care who called for a public inquiry.
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“We apologise to the families of those survivors who died before the inquiry began its work and before the redress scheme opened.”
Swinney added that for many survivors applying to the scheme will not be an “administrative task” but instead an “emotional one” and pledged government support.
He added: “We hope this acknowledgement goes some way to redressing those wrongs. Survivors of childhood abuse have had to endure unbearable pain.
“Today as a country by opening this redress scheme we take a further step in addressing that suffering in the hope that our actions now begin to address the failings of the past.”
Swinney announced the scheme was opening in Holyrood
Tory MSP Jamie Greene voiced his support for the scheme but also asked for further information on how much outside organisations had committed to the scheme.
He said: “There is much to welcome in the statement which I think reflets the calls and asks of the survivor community, next of kin payments, funding independent legal advice, the promise of the survivor’s forum and a commitment to those underlying principles of dignity, respect and compassion, but more importantly a reiteration of that apology, one which I add the voice of these benches too as well.”
Swinney responded and said that a list of contributors to the scheme are available on the Scottish Government website.
It shows commitments including £100,000,000 from Scottish local authorities, £1.5 million from Bernardo’s, £10m from The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and £500,000 from Save the Children UK, to cases where they are named by survivors, on top of funds promised by the Scottish Government.
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Each agreed to pay a “proportion of all determined cases where relevant as a place of abuse” up to their maximum agreed figure.
Scottish Labour MSP Michael Marra also welcomed the scheme, adding: “I hope that survivors may now feel in part even that they have been listened to and they have been heard.
“Today marks welcome progress in redressing the abuse that survivors have suffered and that the scheme is now operational is welcome news indeed.”
While Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman said: “I do hope that survivors will continue to feel heard throughout the operation of the scheme. Can I thank him too for the recognition of the importance of providing non-financial redress, such as emotional and thereputic support.”
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After the announcement, Redress Scotland Chair Johnny Gwynne said: “This is an important day in the lives of survivors for whom this scheme is intended, and a milestone in Scotland’s journey to addressing some of the deeply troubling incidents in its past.
“The Redress Scotland team and panel members consider it a privilege to be able to undertake this significant work.
“We stand ready to receive and make decisions on applications for redress.”
Further information on how to apply to the scheme can be found here.
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