Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry
SCAI
Independent public inquiry into the abuse of children in residential care in Scotland, covering all forms of abuse within living memory.
Read the full description
Independent public inquiry into the abuse of children in residential care in Scotland, covering all forms of abuse within living memory. Chaired by Lady Anne Smith. Established following a 13-year campaign by survivors, originating with Petition PE535 presented to the Scottish Parliament in 2002. The inquiry has announced 117 separate focused investigations and conducts public hearings in phases by institution type. Phase 9 (long-stay healthcare establishments) concluded January 2025; Phase 10 (local authority and voluntary sector care homes) began December 2025. No formal recommendations have been published; these will appear in interim and final reports. Published findings to date are institution-specific case study reports. The most expensive Scottish public inquiry to date. Annual expenditure: 2015/16 £1.1m; 2016/17 £5.7m; 2017/18 £13.9m; 2018/19 £21.5m; 2019/20 £33.3m; 2022/23 £12.9m; 2023/24 £14.0m; 2024/25 £13.5m. Cumulative total to September 2025: £102m.
Where it stands
Public hearings have been held on 615 days, most recently on 19 June 2026. The inquiry has published 18 reports, most recently The provision of education in residential settings for disabled children and young people and children with additional support needs: key legislation and policy developments from 1974 to 2024 on 9 April 2026.
Reports & recommendations
Reports →- Abuse in residential care institutions for disabled children and young people - Executive Summary
- The provision of education in residential settings for disabled children and young people and children with additional support needs: key legislation and policy developments from 1974 to 2024
- Abuse in residential care institutions for disabled children and young people
- Case Study 1: Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul (Smyllum Park and Bellevue)
- Case Study 2: Sisters of Nazareth (Aberdeen, Cardonald, Lasswade)
- Case Study 3: Quarriers, Aberlour Child Care Trust and Barnardo's
Latest evidence
All 2694 documents →Costs
Cost of the Inquiry
Source and qualifications
Accounting period: 1 May 2015 to 30 Jun 2026.
Breakdown and notes
Cost history (44 reports)
| Period | Total | Inquiry Legal | CP Legal | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | £4,586,372 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2026 to 30 Jun 2026. |
| Jun 2026 (cum.) | £113,265,433 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 May 2015 to 30 Jun 2026. |
| Mar 2026 | £3,532,494 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Mar 2026. |
| Dec 2025 | £3,179,571 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2025 to 31 Dec 2025. |
| Sep 2025 | £3,229,583 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2025 to 30 Sep 2025. |
| Jun 2025 | £3,425,482 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2025 to 30 Jun 2025. |
| Mar 2025 | £3,399,816 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2025 to 31 Mar 2025. |
| Dec 2024 | £3,476,697 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2024 to 31 Dec 2024. |
| Sep 2024 | £3,377,242 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2024 to 30 Sep 2024. |
| Jun 2024 | £3,240,864 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2024 to 30 Jun 2024. |
| Mar 2024 | £3,606,111 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Mar 2024. |
| Dec 2023 | £3,431,042 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023. |
| Sep 2023 | £3,063,149 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2023 to 30 Sep 2023. |
| Jun 2023 | £3,872,630 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2023 to 30 Jun 2023. |
| Mar 2023 | £3,196,531 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Mar 2023. |
| Dec 2022 | £3,717,289 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2022 to 31 Dec 2022. |
| Sep 2022 | £3,008,562 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2022 to 30 Sep 2022. |
| Jun 2022 | £2,612,579 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2022 to 30 Jun 2022. |
| Mar 2022 | £3,654,009 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2022 to 31 Mar 2022. |
| Dec 2021 | £2,801,283 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2021 to 31 Dec 2021. |
| Sep 2021 | £2,407,776 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2021 to 30 Sep 2021. |
| Jun 2021 | £2,589,790 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2021 to 30 Jun 2021. |
| Mar 2021 | £2,909,832 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2021 to 31 Mar 2021. |
| Dec 2020 | £2,714,509 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2020 to 31 Dec 2020. |
| Sep 2020 | £2,867,655 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2020 to 30 Sep 2020. |
| Jun 2020 | £2,071,823 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2020 to 30 Jun 2020. |
| Mar 2020 | £3,243,152 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Mar 2020. |
| Dec 2019 | £3,057,880 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2019 to 31 Dec 2019. |
| Sep 2019 | £3,759,613 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2019 to 30 Sep 2019. |
| Jun 2019 | £1,708,731 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2019 to 30 Jun 2019. |
| Mar 2019 | £1,785,678 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2019 to 31 Mar 2019. |
| Dec 2018 | £2,061,330 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2018 to 31 Dec 2018. |
| Sep 2018 | £2,006,745 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2018 to 30 Sep 2018. |
| Jun 2018 | £1,803,376 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2018 to 30 Jun 2018. |
| Mar 2018 | £1,887,942 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2018 to 31 Mar 2018. |
| Dec 2017 | £2,102,396 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2017 to 31 Dec 2017. |
| Sep 2017 | £2,040,843 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2017 to 30 Sep 2017. |
| Jun 2017 | £2,110,588 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2017 to 30 Jun 2017. |
| Mar 2017 | £2,189,418 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2017 to 31 Mar 2017. |
| Dec 2016 | £1,017,000 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2016 to 31 Dec 2016. |
| Sep 2016 | £717,189 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2016 to 30 Sep 2016. |
| Jun 2016 | £687,044 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2016 to 30 Jun 2016. |
| Mar 2016 | £504,041 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2016 to 31 Mar 2016. |
| Dec 2015 | £609,776 | - | - |
Cost of the Inquiry Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 May 2015 to 31 Dec 2015. |