The troubled Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has cost £1,800,000 since launching last year, new figures have revealed. The statistic comes as the inquiry operates without its chair and a key panel member, after they both resigned, and when it has barely begun taking evidence from victims of abuse in care.
QC Susan O’Brien quit as chair earlier this month, days after fellow panel member Professor Michael Lamb, with both citing excessive government interference in the inquiry's work.
The inquiry released the updated figures on its website, along with a statement insisting the inquiry's work was continuing, despite the loss of two of its three person panel.
It said: "Scottish Ministers are in the process of appointing a new Chair and panel member for the Inquiry. Meanwhile, the important work of the Inquiry continues as it seeks to fulfil the requirements outlined in its Terms of Reference."
Spending has risen by £687,044 to £1,800,861 since March, when the inquiry launched a call for evidence, the statement from the inquiry said. "Since then, the Inquiry has been in contact with around 170 survivors of abuse. Private sessions with these survivors have started.
"The sessions are taking place across Scotland and the rest of the UK and are being prioritised according to the individual needs of survivors."
The inquiry has also granted core participant status - and funding for legal representation - for two groups of child abuse survivors, which means they are expected to have a significant role in the inquiry and may have access to evidence and documents not made public more widely. These are INCAS (In Care Abuse Survivors) and FBGA (Former Boys and Girls Abused of Quarriers Homes).
The Inquiry also said that it had taken a "significant step" towards creating a public record of abuse, by commissioning Professor Lorraine Radford of the University of Central Lancashire to undertaken a review of evidence of the prevalence of child abuse in Scotland. This will focus on the abuse of children in residential and foster care and Prof Radford is expected to report on her findings by the end of this year.
The statement said discussions have also been held with a range of organisations including Police Scotland, local authorities and health boards about the preservation and recovery of relevant records, and the Inquiry will start requesting documents in the coming months.
However the enquiry has only so far taken evidence from people who are frail, sick or elderly and its potential cost has already become an issue.
When he resigned, Professor Michael Lamb, of Cambridge University, said government interference had left the inquiry team unable to do its job: "as a result of this interference, the Inquiry has been forced to work without the key personnel and resources needed to ensure progress," he said.
In her letter of resignation, Susan O'Brien attacked ministers and civil servants for excessive interference in the inquiry's work. It was revealed at the time that deputy first minister John Swinney had begun steps to have her removed, allegedly over comments she had made disparaging survivors. However she also claimed the "nuclear option" of removing her had first been discussed in January "during a dispute about funding".
Mr Swinney said at the time he had a duty to ensure costs to the public purse were under control.
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