SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Stephen Naysmith, Social affairs correspondent
CRYPTIC was the word chosen by one survivor to describe Lady Smith’s comments on the numbers taking part in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI). “I don’t understand why she was being so cryptic,” Dave Sharp told me. “But the numbers are important for survivors.”
Lady Smith said she was not willing to update the figure of 170 victims of historical child abuse who had come forward to take part in the inquiry which dates back to June last year, before she was even appointed, although she did say “many more” have since been in touch.
I’ve asked, and Lady Smith says the inquiry is asked regularly, for the latest figures. “The extent of our growing knowledge and understanding about what was happening to children in care cannot be measured simply by the number of people who have talked or are talking to us … ” she said, adding: “We are not going to provide a running commentary,” and explained why not.
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