SCOTLAND
Daily Record

Oct 28, 2014 00:01 By Dan Warburton

SURVIVORS of historic child abuse yesterday blasted ministers for failing to commit to a full-scale public inquiry into their treatment.

Education Minister Michael Russell said the Scottish Government would help develop a support fund for those who were abused in care.

Victims of sexual assaults dating back decades criticised “repeated refusals” to stage a national review of the scandal.

Academic Alan Draper, who advised the Catholic Church on child protection, said: “We keep hearing this word ‘commitment’ but these are just words.

“Organisations are afraid because it will expose past bad practice and individuals may be prosecuted.”

More than 70 representatives from the Scottish Government, local authorities, churches and care providers staged talks with survivor groups yesterday.