Abuse victims set for £370m payouts – but is it enough?

SURVIVORS of historic child abuse in Scottish institutions will share compensation from public funds which could reach £370 million.

The Scottish Government is committed to the payouts following the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which has cost more than £40 million.

It has heard of horrific cruelty towards youngsters at institutions run by charities, religious orders and, most recently, private schools.

However, abuse survivors and opposition politicians fear that the vast sums set out in a newly revised financial memorandum may fall short of meaningful redress – and that £500 million should be set aside.

The document envisages that half of all survivors will be awarded just £10,000 or £20,000, the two lowest levels of compensation.

One survivor, now in his 60s, said: ‘It will be remembered as a callous and ineffectual system if people who lost their entire childhood while in care, and are affected by it still, are told their lifetime of suffering is worth £20,000.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Decisions on redress payments will be entirely independent of Government and no spending targets will be imposed.’