Victims of historic child abuse given £4m

John Swinney

More than 400 victims of abuse in care were given the money by the Scottish government.

In April last year, the advance payment scheme was launched. The scheme promised £10,000 to each victim of abuse aged 68 or over, or who were terminally ill.

In its first year, the scheme made 417 payments, the equivalent of about £4m.

The payouts come ahead of a statutory redress scheme, expected to pass at Holyrood next March and which was set up to ensure elderly victims would be able to receive payments.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I am pleased that more than 400 people have received an advance payment. We continue to do everything possible to help survivors and their families apply to the scheme by ensuring a simple application process. I am particularly pleased by the positive feedback we have received on the process from survivors and survivors groups.

“While clearly nothing can take away the pain that individuals have suffered, the scheme, together with other actions we are taking, will go some way towards acknowledging the grievous harm inflicted on them when they were most vulnerable.”