Scotland's Redress Scheme – 2026 Combined Annual Report

1. Ministerial Foreword

Scotland’s Redress Scheme has now been running for four and a half years. Over the lifetime of the scheme so far, we have received over 8,500 applications from survivors with more than 3,500 survivors receiving a payment. Redress payments of over £200 million have been made.

Each one of these applications represents a survivor seeking tangible acknowledgment, and redress for, the abuse they suffered.

I understand nothing can ever make up for the suffering survivors endured in a place where they should have been safe, loved, and respected. The scheme serves as a crucial step in acknowledging the harm caused through issuing apologies, payments, and providing support to survivors.

The Scottish Government continues to actively seek financial contributions from organisations responsible for the care of children during instances of abuse, whether directly providing care or involved in the decision-making process leading to the children being placed in the place where the abuse took place. There are now 25 entries on the live contributions list with contributions to the Scheme totalling over £124 million. Since the last combined report was published in 2025, one new contributor has joined the Scheme: The Ministry of Defence (MoD).

This report sets out the actions taken by contributors to Scotland’s Redress Scheme to provide redress for the historical abuse of children and is a requirement of the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021.

As the Cabinet Secretary taking over portfolio responsibility for Scotland’s Redress Scheme. I want to express my appreciation to all the contributors to Scotland’s Redress Scheme as we collectively endeavour to acknowledge the injustices of the past and provide redress to survivors of childhood abuse in care in Scotland.

Jenny Gilruth

Deputy First Minister