First response.
Population Health Directorate
Active Scotland Division
E:
graeme.hunter@gov.scot
Our ref: 2018/0038932 3 December 2018
Dear
I refer to your email of 6 November 2018 to the First Minister. I have been asked to reply.
Experiences of sexual abuse in Scottish football will have a profound and long-lasting impact on those who were abused. Ensuring children can enjoy taking part in sport in a safe and secure environment – as well as giving parents’ confidence about the safety and wellbeing of their children – is a priority for the Scottish Government.
The Scottish FA announced the terms of reference for an independent review of non-recent sexual abuse allegations in Scottish football on 2 February 2017. The interim report was published on 26 July 2018.
The interim report allows the Scottish FA to address some of the recommendations before the final report is published when current on-going legal cases are concluded.
I am sure you will appreciate it would be inappropriate to comment on any individual cases – particularly when there is an ongoing criminal appeal – however, the Scottish Government unreservedly condemns the abhorrent crime of sexual abuse and is working with a range of organisations to prevent and tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Yours sincerely
Graeme Hunter
Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
www.gov.scot
Second response.
Thank you for your reply.
However, my question was not about what the Scottish FA we’re doing about the serious sexual abuse allegations. My question was to the first minister.
I understand that the government in Scotland have decided to leave from their investigation sporting organisations and religious organisations from their sexual abuse enquires.
Could you please ask the first minister and explain to me the reasons for this and why after all the cases that are ongoing the first minister is unwilling to address this issue.
Regards
Graham ,
I would like a response directly from the First Minister.
Regards
Latest response.
Thank you for your further email – I am sure you will appreciate the First Minister receives a high volume of correspondence, therefore I am replying on her behalf.
Religious organisation are not excluded from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. The remit covers a wider range of care settings likechildren’s homes including those provided by faith based groups.
The remit was arrived at following extensive consultation and engagement with survivors of in-care child abuse and other interested parties. If the remit was widened now to include abuse in other settings – for example, sporting organisations – it would take many more years to conclude, and would therefore fail to respond to those survivors of in-care abuse who campaigned for many years for the type of Inquiry we have set up.
The independent review commissioned by the Scottish FA is considering historical sexual abuse in football. Martin Henry was appointed chair, his experience of many years in the field of child and public protection – and most recently national manager of child sexual abuse prevention charity Stop it Now – ensured he was well qualified for the role. As I said in my previous response, the interim report was published on 26 July 2018 and the full report will be published when ongoing legal issues are concluded.
Also, the Scottish Government has engaged with a wide range of organisations and Sports Governing Bodies to ensure safeguarding arrangements are appropriate across sport in Scotland.
Regards
Graeme Hunter