Representatives of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry have rejected claims that security lapses have undermined its work.

After a newspaper reported that a door at the inquiry had been left unlocked, potentially allowing access to confidential files, a spokesman denied there had been any risk of access to such files, adding that "rigorous security measures" were always in place.

Reports also stated that details of data protection errors had been sent to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), including one in which a letter about evidence given by an abuse victim was sent to the wrong address and another in which confidential information was sent to a former panel member, even though he had left the inquiry team.

SCAI confirmed the breaches had taken place, but said they had been brought to the attention of the ICO by the inquiry itself. Meanwhile the a door mistakenly left unlocked overnight is understood to have also been protected by the need for a pin code and swipe card held only by staff members.

A spokesperson for the SCAI said: "At no point has the inquiry office been left unsecured and a range of rigorous security measures have always been in place.

"We take data protection extremely seriously and would self-report any breach as soon as possible."

He said the information commissioner had already examined two of the reported breaches and decided no further action was necessary. "In relation to the self-reports we have made, we took all the appropriate steps to remedy matters and reiterated to all staff the strict procedures that are in place to ensure data is always handled correctly and securely."