Fornethy House Survivors

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 25 May 2023.

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Photo of Colin Smyth Colin Smyth Labour

Over 30 years, hundreds—maybe even thousands—of little girls who were sent by the state to Fornethy House residential school for care and nurturing were instead subjected to a catalogue of unimaginable mental, physical and, in some cases, sexual abuse. To date, none of the perpetrators of that abuse has been fully brought to justice.

Dozens of those little girls, who are now women, are in Parliament today to listen to my members’ business debate on justice for the Fornethy survivors. They do not expect the First Minister to intervene in a police investigation, but they do want to be listened to, so they have asked me to ask the First Minister to personally meet them—not necessarily today, but soon—to listen to their plight and give them the unequivocal assurance that what happened to those little girls will be properly acknowledged. That is surely the least that we can do.

Photo of Humza Yousaf Humza Yousaf Scottish National Party

Yes, I will commit to meeting the survivors; I have met some of them—some are constituents of mine and I have met them as a local MSP. I am afraid that I will not be able to meet them today, but I am certain that our offices can liaise to find a suitable time.

I commend Colin Smyth for bringing his members’ business debate, which will take place after this question time. I hope that he will accept my apologies for being unable to stay for that, but the Deputy First Minister will respond on the Government’s behalf.

As for Colin Smyth’s request, he is right that that is the least that we and I can do. I am happy to meet the survivors and I invite him to assist in facilitating that meeting.

The Presiding Officer:

That concludes First Minister’s question time. There will be a short suspension to allow people to leave the chamber and the public gallery.

12:51 Meeting suspended.

12:52 On resuming—