SCAI: Timeline
Key dates in the inquiry's progress, assembled from its recorded milestones and hearing phases.
Hearing-phase dates are taken from the published hearing days; some earlier milestone dates are approximate where the inquiry has not published an exact date.
Milestones & hearing phases
Milestone
Hearing phase
Reports & costs
Still to come
Inquiry Established
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry formally established under Inquiries Act 2005.
Inquiry Announced
Scottish Government announced a public inquiry into historical child abuse in care.
Chair Appointed
Lady Smith appointed as Chair of the Inquiry.
Evidential hearings
614 sitting days
Final Report Expected
Hearings may continue into 2026 with final report to follow completion of evidence.
Final report (to be confirmed)
The inquiry has not yet reported.