GLASGOW (UNITED KINGDOM)
Scottish Daily Express [Glasgow, Scotland]
August 22, 2022
By John Glover
Victims explained the scheme was aimed to take a total of eight weeks since applying but have been waiting longer, due to delays caused by ‘staff shortages’
The SNP Government has been accused of ‘betraying’ victims of child abuse amid claims the compensation scheme has descended into “chaos”.
Survivors of historical abuse claimed they have been treated like “second-class citizens” after long hold-ups in securing payouts.
The Scottish Government has claimed that staff shortages has resulted in delays to processing the claims for victims meaning they have had to wait longer for their promised cash under the redress scheme launched in December last year.
At the time, the Deputy First Minister John Swinney boasted of “confronting the scale and horror of the abuse Scotland’s most vulnerable children [had] suffered”.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Jamie Greene told the Scottish Daily Mail: “No amount of money can ever replace the appalling suffering these survivors endured.
“But this scheme at least gave them hope. However, typically under this SNP Government, it appears that the process is simply not fit for purpose.
“The arduous waits being experienced by survivors are completely unacceptable and, if they are not fixed, will represent a betrayal of victims.”
The redress scheme has had more than 1,2000 applications with only 60 – less than 5 per cent – having had an “initial determination” made.
Simon Collins, one of the lawyers representing child abuse victims, said: “I have been receiving a number of complaints from survivors for some time about delays in the process.
“There are survivors I represent who submitted completed forms with all supporting information six months ago and have not yet had the applications forwarded for a decision [on redress].”
‘This is a delaying tactic’
An elderly survior who was a victim of abuse at the hands of the nuns at the Sisters of Nazareth, Catholic order, told the paper she was still waiting for payment after submitting her claim in February.
The woman spoke to the paper but due to legal reasons cannot be named, claiming ministers were treating the victims like ‘second class citizens’.
She said: “Survivors feel that this is a delaying tactic that is being operated within the system, and the chaos goes with it. I am not alone in feeling the whole operation has been conducted very unprofessionally, with little empathy.”
She added: “Survivors are only looking for honesty and integrity by being kept up to date with what is happening, but with the lack of information forthcoming we are all demoralised, stressed and anxious that we will never get justice.”
The Scottish Government launched the scheme in December with those eligible be able to claim from £10,000 to £100,000.
Another abuse survivor said: “An advance payment scheme was set up for elderly people and those who are terminally ill. That was seen as a pilot; it opened in April 2019 and closed the day the proper scheme opened.
“You would think that any issues would have been ironed out. If you are looking for a higher amount [than £10,000], you really are having to jump through hoops.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases. However, in response to feedback received, the operating model for Scotland’s Redress Scheme has been improved to ensure that applications can be progressed prior to applicants having a caseworker allocated.
“Due to a higher than anticipated number of applications received requiring development, additional caseworkers are being recruited to improve the experiences of those engaging with the scheme.
“As each application is unique to an individual’s experience it is not possible to determine an average timescale. However, priority is given to applicants with a terminal illness and those over 68 years of age.”