Justice for the Fornethy Survivors

The motion

That the Parliament commends what it sees as the bravery and determination of the group, Fornethy Survivors, which continues in what it considers its fight for justice for the reported hundreds of women who experienced appalling physical, phycological and, in some cases, sexual abuse as young girls while they resided at Fornethy Residential School, in Angus, between 1960 and the 1990s; understands that Fornethy was reportedly one of a small number of schools run by Glasgow Corporation, and later by Strathclyde Regional Council, under its "scheme of residential education", and that the scheme began in 1945 with the approval of the then Secretary of State; notes the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee's recommendation that the Scottish Government should consult on expanding Scotland's Redress Scheme to include residential institutions, such as Fornethy, that were owned and operated by public bodies, regardless of how long children stayed in those institutions; acknowledges the reported difficulties that the survivors have had in obtaining personal records that were held by the owners of Fornethy House at the time, which were Glasgow Corporation and Strathclyde Regional Council; understands that, in March 2024, the former Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison, told the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee that she did not intend to change the eligibility criteria for Scotland's Redress Scheme, and that part of the rationale for this was that “the absence of records means that, even if the eligibility criteria were to be changed, Fornethy survivors are unlikely to meet the evidential requirements of the scheme”; considers, however, that this did not align with the committee's understanding of Redress Scotland’s evidence to it that panel members tasked with determining applications for redress work from a presumption of truth, and that there is provision in the statutory guidance for discretion to be used where records are missing or limited, with applications considered on their individual merit; recognises that it has been reported that over 200 women from different parts of the country, particularly in the Glasgow area but also including the South Scotland region, have come forward to tell of the abuse that they suffered, and understands that the Fornethy survivors are seeking compensation in recognition of this abuse, and also answers to why the abuse at Fornethy reportedly continued over so many years, as well as a meaningful public apology.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

Lab 8 Con 5 SNP 2 Green 2 LD 1

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

1. 12 Jun 2025
   Fornethy Survivors

   Liam McArthur LD Meeting of the Parliament

   The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15136, in the name of Colin Smyth, on justice for the Fornethy survivors. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. Before we start, I would like to m…