To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in tackling child sexual abuse, in light of reported calls for a full United Kingdom national inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs. (S6T-02268)

The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise (Natalie Don-Innes):

Child sexual abuse and exploitation are abhorrent crimes that have devastating impacts on victims. We are taking direct action through the Scottish child abuse inquiry, the terms of reference for which were established following extensive public consultation with survivors of in-care child abuse. The inquiry is considering the current legislative, policy and practice framework to prevent and address child abuse and it will set out where it considers that changes are required.

Given the importance of the issues, we are not waiting for the inquiry to report, and we established a child sexual abuse and exploitation national strategic group in October 2024 with operational partners and other expert stakeholders including the former chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales, Professor Alexis Jay, to review current actions and agree where additional focus is needed to better protect children from abuse and exploitation.

I thank the Minister for her answer. I make it clear that my intention is not to label any ethnic group but to shed light on the issue as a whole—rather than leaving the matter to people such as Elon Musk.

The stories that we hear from young girls who were victims of grooming gangs are heartbreaking. I use this moment to thank all the brave survivors for coming forward.

In 2020, Barnardo’s Scotland and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration launched the first national study of child sexual exploitation in Scotland. It is now more than four years since that report was published. It included 15 recommendations, many of which were for the Scottish Government. How many of the report’s recommendations has the Scottish Government implemented?

Natalie Don-Innes:

We have made progress in delivering the outcomes that were sought in the Barnardo’s report, which included recommendations for a number of agencies that are involved in the response to child sexual abuse in Scotland. On the Scottish Government’s part, that includes public-facing campaigns on child sexual abuse and, more recently, on the risk of online sexual exploitation. We remain committed to the Promise and its transformative support for families in need. We have established a national contextual safeguarding group, supported by child protection committees Scotland, and we continue to embed care and risk management processes to assist local authorities with identification, assessment and management of children who display harmful sexual behaviour.

Improving understanding of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation is essential, but any data must be gathered in a manner that minimises the risk of retraumatisation of victims. Data on reported concerns about child abuse or neglect is collected by Police Scotland and reported nationally in a monthly dashboard. That data set is currently being extended in order to provide more in-depth analysis of characteristics and trends in abuse and exploitation. Improvements in training have also been made by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, with child sexual exploitation now being addressed in children’s panel members’ pre-service training.

Although recent attention has been on grooming gangs in towns down south—I echo Kemi Badenoch’s calls for a national inquiry—it would be wrong to think that we are immune to the problem in Scotland. Major police investigations—operation dash and operation Cotswold—have uncovered grooming gangs operating right here, in Scotland. A third investigation, known as operation cerrar, revealed the existence of yet another grooming gang but, despite that investigation taking place in 2016, it appears to have been covered up for four years before the brave work of journalists revealed its existence to the public back in 2020.

Will the Minister confirm whether she is aware of any on-going police investigations into grooming gangs in Scotland? If there is to be a national inquiry into grooming gangs, will the Scottish Government do its bit to help to facilitate the inquiry’s work?

Natalie Don-Innes:

As I said, this is an extremely serious matter. As, I am sure, Pam Gosal is aware, I am not able to comment on on-going police issues or activity.

As I have already stated, the Scottish child abuse inquiry is on-going, and its terms of reference were established following extensive public consultation with survivors of in-care child abuse. The terms of reference task the inquiry with investigating the nature and extent of the abuse of children in care in Scotland as well as identifying any systemic failures that allowed that abuse to happen.

I am clear that the inquiry is independent, and it is the responsibility of Lady Smith, its chair, to decide exactly what the inquiry examines in order to fulfil its full terms of reference.

The Scottish Government will carefully consider any recommendations made by the inquiry to improve the protection of children in Scotland. However, as I have set out, evidence from inquiry hearings and the inquiry’s findings are already being considered as part of on-going improvement work. The Scottish Government is making a number of moves, across Government, to better support children and young people who may be at risk of abuse.

Concise questions and responses would be appreciated.

In her earlier answer, the Minister spoke of the child sexual abuse and exploitation national strategic group, which has been set up by the Scottish Government. Can the minister update the Parliament on how she envisages that that group will support survivors of sexual abuse as well as prevent and tackle child sexual exploitation? Can she provide details on the issues that it will be looking into this year?

Natalie Don-Innes:

As I have set out, the Scottish Government is working closely with partners to deliver a co-ordinated multi-agency response in order to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. However, in recognition of the need to go further, we have established the new group to provide national leadership and further improve our shared response to child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland.

The group met on 18 November and 11 December. It brings together key stakeholders, including from social work, police, health and education, as well as local authority representatives, expert practitioners, representatives of charities, researchers and academics. As I have stated, it includes the former chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.

The group will share outputs of its discussions shortly, but I am pleased to report that significant progress was made at the first meetings towards identifying some potential priorities, and work is now under way to further explore those priorities, with the aim of identifying actions for the group’s consideration when it meets again in the coming months.

Scotland has had its own sexual abuse scandals involving children. One well-reported case, operation planet, was an investigation into the alleged abuse of young boys recruited for sex work, many of whom were in care. That case is not included in the inquiry.

I acknowledge the presence of the First Minister, John Swinney, who has been personally dedicated, over many years, to addressing the issue of historical child sex abuse.

I wrote to Lady Smith last year to ask for the inclusion of such abuse cases involving children in care that are currently not included. I hope to have the minister’s support for that. I also ask the minister to confirm that the continuing commitment to invest in the survivors of child abuse will give practical support to those adults who have survived child sex abuse.

Natalie Don-Innes:

As I made clear in my previous answer, the inquiry is independent. As Pauline McNeill implied, it is the responsibility of its chair, Lady Smith, to decide on what exactly the inquiry examines.

I did not catch the member’s full question, but I believe that it alluded to support for victims of such behaviour. I have already laid out some of the actions that the Scottish Government is taking to support victims and to look at what more action can be taken to do that. I also draw the member’s attention to our on-going investment and commitment to the bairns’ hoose model, which is transforming victims’ access to the services that they need. I am happy to pick up those points in further discussions with the member.

There are, of course, parallels with other areas of child safeguarding failures, whereby whistleblowers have been vilified, intimidated and shut down. A civilised society must not rely on the bravery of a small number of whistleblowers. It is the Government’s role to make sure that the system supports people such as the police, social workers and care home staff to do the right thing.

Those girls were failed at every turn by a system that was meant to protect them—even, in some cases, criminalised for their own abuse, which is sickening. My unbuyable bill would allow for a debate and a vote on commercial sexual exploitation, placing the shame where it belongs—on the perpetrator.

Can the Scottish Government give assurances that such a failure has not happened, and is not happening, in Scotland? Is the Government confident that there has been no such cover up here?

Natalie Don-Innes:

Although I have set out what the Government is doing to tackle this, I have been very clear today that I am aware that there is still a way to go to fully provide the support needed and to eradicate such behaviour.

As I said, the working group has been set up, the inquiry is on-going, and actions are being taken that will help with the situation. If the member would like to discuss any specific matters with me, such as other things that we could be doing to help with this, I would be more than happy to pick those up with her.

My apologies to those members whose questions we have not been able to reach. That concludes topical questions.