Charities warn over payments to abuse survivors

CHARITIES have warned they have “significant concern” they will not be able to afford redress payments to survivors of historical child abuse.

The Scottish Government has introduced a Bill to make redress payments to victims of historical child abuse in care.

Organisations which were responsible for the care of children at the time of the abuse, including local councils, are being asked to contribute to the scheme – thought to total up to £350 million being paid to survivors.

The Quarriers charity, in a submission to Holyrood’s Education Committee, which is considering the Bill, warned that “contributions will need to be paid from free reserves”.

But the organisation stressed that “many charities do not operate significant reserves or hold wider assets”.

Dr Ron Culley, chief executive officer of Quarriers, told MSPS that the charity is “absolutely committed to the rights of survivors” but insisted he has “some significant concerns” over affordability of the payments, compounded by the pandemic.

He told the committee that “the sum being asked of us is a million miles away from being affordable”.

Dr Culley added: “As it stands just now, we are unable to participate given the level of contribution asked by government.”

Education Secretary John Swinney said: “I want this Bill to provide survivors and their families with the acknowledgement and recognition they rightly seek and deserve.

“We have brought forward this vitally important Bill because acknowledging the unquestionable harm caused by historic abuse is the right thing to do.”