Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney says the DWP have given assurances that that the Advance Payment Scheme will not affect other financial provision an individual is receiving.

This assurance will last for one year only, he adds.

The deputy first minister tells the chamber the Scottish government is in advanced discussion with HMRC to ensure the payment is discounted for tax purposes.

He says he has no reason to believe there will be an issue here but did not want to delay this announcement.

Mr Swinney goes on to say he cannot possibly express his admiration for the survivors who informed this policy.

Financial redress is part of a package of measures that we have taken to help victims and survivors of historical child abuse in care.

Other measures include:

• the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, external which is investigating the abuse of children in care in Scotland, and making recommendations for changes to legislation, policy and practice
• the National Confidential Forum, external, which was set up to listen to, and acknowledge, people’s childhood experiences of institutional care in Scotland
• Future Pathways, external which is providing person-centered support to survivors of historical child abuse in care
• changing the law to remove a barrier which prevented child abuse survivors from accessing civil justice - The Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Act 2017, external which came into force on 4 October 2017

• the Apologies (Scotland) Act 2016, external which promotes a change in culture and attitudes towards making an apology

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says the government are doing the right thing and seeks further information on how long the process from application to payment will take.

He also asks whether the government will pick up the entire tab or if responsible organisations will be asked to contribute.

The deputy first minister says he hopes to make payments within a month of the applications being made and this will be monitored.

The government will meet the costs in full as this will speed up the process for the advanced payment scheme, he adds.

But discussions are ongoing as to whether contributions will be required for the statutory redress scheme, Mr Swinney confirms.

Green MSP Ross Greer also puts on record his party's thanks to the Scottish government and the survivors organisations.

How will the Scottish government ensure the awareness of the scheme is as wide as possible, he asks.

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney says a variety of means will be used to increase awareness of the scheme, including this statement.

The government will also be working with survivor groups and will look to ensure as many individuals as possible can apply for the scheme, he adds.

A marketing campaign is quite challenging due to the sensitivity involved says Mr Swinney, but he hopes that if individuals take the courageous decision to apply, they will be supported.

Labour MSP Iain Gray welcomes the announcement and assurances the procedures will be straightforward and sensitive.

But he points to contradictions between the remit of the scheme and of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, namely the cutoff date of 2004 rather than 2014, as well as on boarding schools.

Mr Swinney says he appreciates the support from Mr Gray

Regarding the cutoff date, he says 2004 was selected because of a statement made by former first minister Lord McConnell at that time.

On boarding schools, Mr Swinney explains the distinction is because of the expectation of institutions acting in loco parentis to protect children.

Tory MSP Liz Smith commends the Scottish government very strongly for the way they have undertaken what must have been difficult work.

Ms Smith strongly welcomes the Advance Payments Scheme.

She agrees with the need to have specialist care workers on hand for the application process and asks, should it prove necessary to expand the role, has the Scottish government made provision for that.

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney thanks Ms Smith for her generous remarks and agrees these are very difficult issues and he thanks those abuse survivors who have helped get us to this point.

Individuals must be supported through the process of an application, he says.

The deputy first minister adds that support will be there and he will regularly be monitoring it.

The Scottish government announced it would set up a financial compensation scheme for survivors of childhood abuse in care in October.

An independent inquiry is looking in detail at historical abuse of children in care in Scotland, and has heard of hundreds of allegations being made.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney told MSPs that legislation to establish a redress scheme would be passed inside the current parliamentary term.

Addressing survivors directly, he said: "We believe you, and we are sorry."

Read more here.

Applicants will not be required to submit evidence of having been abused, but will have to prove they were in care Mr Swinney says.

Applicants will also be made aware of organisations offering emotion or other types of support in recognition of the impact of applying for payments, he adds.

The deputy first minister says applications from the terminally ill will be prioritised.

He emphasises no decisions have been taken on the proposals for the statutory redress scheme.

"I can reassure other survivors of historical abuse in care that our commitment to design the statutory scheme with a strong survivor voice is unrelenting," he concludes.

Image source, bbc

Mr Swinney stresses: "The systems we now have in place to regulate different aspects of child care and to safeguard children from systemic abuse are radically different than the regimes of yesteryear."

He cites the establishment of Disclosure Scotland, the setting up the Care Inspectorate and the requirement of registration of care staff across children’s services.

The date of of December 2004 is the date prior to which abuse would have to have taken place to demonstrate eligibility.

The Advance Payment Scheme seeks to respond where institutions and bodies had responsibility for the long-term care of children in the place of the parent, he adds.

Mr Swinney confirms the scheme is now open for applications, with a telephone support line to open on Monday.

The Advanced Payments Scheme will be administered within the Scottish government by specially trained caseworkers, he adds.

The payment will be an equal payment to all applicants who reach the eligibility criteria, with the level set at £10,000 the deputy first minister says.

To be eligible, applicants must have a terminal illness or be aged 70 and over, and have been subject to abuse in Scotland before December 2004.

Image source, bbc

Deputy First Minister John Swinney begins by saying he is fulfilling his commitment to provide financial redress for victims and survivors of historical child abuse in care.

Mr Swinney, referring to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, says: "Since October we have continued to hear harrowing evidence of the abuse of children in care settings across Scotland."

He pledges that the Scottish government will consider with great care the findings and recommendations that are made in due course by Lady Smith.

The government remains committed to introducing a bill relating to the the statutory redress scheme by March 2021.

"I am pleased today to confirm the launch of an Advance Payment Scheme for those who were abused as a child in care in Scotland, and who have a terminal illness or are age 70 or over.

Image source, Thinkstock

Deputy First Minister John Swinney is making a statement on advanced redress payments for victims of historical child abuse.

Ms Hyslop says the Scottish government welcomes the launch of the new channel and urges the BBC to take a lead on developing the creative industry in Scotland.

She adds the research into audience attitudes towards the BBC is collected by Ofcom, while TV viewing figures are collated by the broadcaster's audience research board.

Ms Ross says there is a perception that the majority of production and filming is concentrated in the central belt.

The cabinet secretary says the BBC makes its own decisions on this, but she will continue to argue for all of Scotland to be represented.

She goes on to highlight the need for more successful production companies with ongoing series based in Scotland.

From the Herald:, external

"Viewing figures for the new BBC Scotland channel have been revealed.

"According to reports, viewing figures this month have ranged from a high of 36000 on April 4 to just 8980 on the first day of the Clutha disaster inquiry on April 8.

"BBC bosses defended the new channel despite claims of "troubling viewership figures".

"The channel’s quiz show, WonderBall, recorded figures as low as 2760."

SNP MSP Gail Ross asks about research taking place into citizen engagement and satisfaction with the new BBC Scotland channel.

We are strongly supporting our vibrant film sector through increased funding, answers Fiona Hyslop.

The culture secretary details funding that has supported recent films and points to the Outlaw King as an example.

She also cites Screen Scotland's bid to create a studio through its ongoing tender.

"There's room in Scotland for more than one studio."

Image source, KEPPIE

The company whose plans for a major film and TV studio near Edinburgh were thwarted by a tenant farmer has lodged plans for a different site.

PSL Land, the team behind the Pentland Studios project, has now shifted its attention to a site at Saltersgate, near Dalkeith in Midlothian.

It has submitted a planning application for a studio and a film academy., external

The move comes a month after a building in the Port of Leith was identified as the potential home of a major studio.

Read more.

SNP MSP Richard Lyle asks the Scottish government what steps it is taking to help the film industry.

Image source, Visit Scotland

Culture, tourism and external affairs ministers will now be quizzed during portfolio questions.