Cinema-goers are currently flocking to Spotlight, the true-ish tale of Boston journalists investigating and revealing historic child abuse.

In Scotland we now have our own inquiry, headed by Susan O'Brien QC, into the sorry histories of children abused in state care, with victims of abuse, rather like those in the film, hoping for answers and an honest appraisal of what went wrong with the system.

But a developing row between victims and survivors of child abuse and the government is set to culminate tomorrow when education secretary Angela Constance meets some of her leading critics.

It is hard to see how Thursday's meeting can be remotely productive. Groups such as Incas, the In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland believe Ms Constance has already had to be dragged to the table, after reneging on an earlier pledge to meet with them. The government feels, on the other hand, that there are few interest groups which have had such extensive consultation and contact with ministers and officials - more than 15 meetings between December 14 and the launch of the inquiry in 2015.

Ominously, the two sides appear to have completely different preconceptions about what will actually be discussed at tomorrow's encounter. The cabinet secretary's office wrote out to Incas saying topics will include the government's commitment to engaging with survivors, its inability to influence the work of the independent inquiry and progress on implementing a human rights based action plan.

Survivors say the agenda should include widening the remit of the inquiry to allow institutions - such as the Catholic Church for example - to be held to account, there should be proper accountability and redress for those who suffered as a result of institutional abuse, and that the time bar which prevents many victims from suing over their experiences must be lifted.

They may be reassured on that latter point. A new law will remove the barrier which prevents legal action in any case where three years has elapsed since an individual was abused. Victims are understandably concerned that there is so little time left in the current parliament. However last night the Government was still insisting new legislation would be tabled in this parliamentary session.

What can resolve the remaining issues? The Government believes many survivors are happy with the inquiry and it is a vocal minority who are upset. Officials say abuse victims need to realise the inquiry must remain independent and Ms Constance can't now tinker with its remit. But such tinkering, to extend the scope of the inquiry is exactly what campaign groups seem to want.

Officials say the independent inquiry must be left to get on with its job, but privately wonder whether perhaps the level of support for survivors in the past has been so strong that they now feel abandoned. Many victims of abuse I have spoken to simply say they have been treated with contempt.

I don't like to sound pessimistic, but if tomorrow's meeting culminates with representatives of abuse victims announcing they are no longer supporting or cooperating with the inquiry, it would

not be a huge surprise.