Background
The Committee has been monitoring the progress of the inquiry, and the areas of responsibility that fall to the Scottish Government. The correspondence below relates to the progress of the inquiry and of the separate support available to survivors. The Convener and Deputy Convener also held meetings with survivors groups In Care Survivors (Incas), White Flowers Alba and the Former Girls and Boys Abused in Quarriers homes (FGBA) in December 2016.
The Committee first discussed the inquiry at the end of a formal evidence session on 2nd November and then held a further session on 21st December. This session was to scrutinise the Government in relation to the decisions announced in the Cabinet Secretary’s ministerial statement to Parliament on 17th November and also to raise the issues highlighted in meetings with survivor groups. All letters, Committee papers and Official Reports are linked below.
Evidence
On 2 November 2016, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills gave evidence to the Committee on a number of issues relating to the Education and Skills Committee.
Read the Meeting Papers and Official Report for 2 November 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills gave a ministerial statement to the Parliament on 17 November 2016.
Read the Official Report for 17 November 2016
Following discussion of its Work programme on 30 November 2016, the Committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to give evidence on the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry at its meeting on 21 December 2016. Prior to this Committee meeting, the Committee agreed that the Convener and Deputy Convener should meet with survivor groups.
The following approach paper was issued ahead of the Cabinet Secretary's evidence session on 21 December 2016.
Additionally, in advance of the evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary, the following submission was received:
Correspondence
The Convener received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding the recommendations from the Interation Action Plan Review group in repect of the possible Financial Compensation/ Redress of historical abuse victims in care in Scotland.
The Converner received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding the update from the review group recommendations on advance payments under the financial redress scheme,
The Convener received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding the launch of an advance payment scheme under the financial redress scheme.