First Minister historic apologies: FOI release

Information requested

The following information relating to historic apologies issued by the First Minister since the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament:

1. How many historic apologies have been issued, and to whom, for what?
2. What reparations, if any, were made alongside the apologies granted?
3. How many requests for historic apologies are outstanding, and to whom/what issue do they relate?
4. What is the process for (a) making a request for a historic apology, and (b) what process does the First Minister/Scottish Government follow when deciding upon which should be granted.

Response

A response to each of your questions is provided below. I have interpreted 'historic apologies issued by the First Minister' to mean formal apologies made on behalf of the Scottish Government and I have interpreted the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament to mean 12 May 1999, when the Scottish Parliament was first reconvened.

(1) The Scottish Government does not keep a central record of formal apologies. A search of Scottish Government records has been undertaken and the following formal apologies made by the Scottish Government have been identified:

(i) As part of Scotland’s Redress Scheme, the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, issued one personal apology to an individual who was abused as a child in care;
(ii) As part of Scotland’s Redress Scheme, the former Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, issued six personal apologies to individuals who were abused as children in care;
(iii) As part of Scotland’s Redress Scheme, the Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison MSP, has issued three personal apologies to individuals who were abused as children in care;
(iv) On 22 March 2023, the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, issued a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government to those affected by historic adoption practices;
(v) On 8 March 2022, the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, issued a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government to those accused of witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries;
(vi) On 1 December 2021, the then Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, reiterated a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government to those who were abused as children in care;
(vii) On 8 September 2020, the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Jeane Freeman, issued a formal apology to those harmed by the use of Polypropylene Mesh Medical Devices, sodium valproate and Primodos;
(viii) On 25 October 2018, the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, issued a formal apology to women who experienced complications as a result of the use of Polypropylene Mesh Medical Devices;
(ix) On 23 October 2018, the then Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, issued a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government to those who were abused as children in care;
(x) On 7 November 2017, the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, issued a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government to men convicted for same sex sexual activity which is now legal;
(xi) On 6 October 2015, the then Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Shona Robison MSP, issued a formal apology to women who experienced complications as a result of the use of Polypropylene Mesh Medical Devices;
(xii) On 26 March 2015, the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, issued a formal apology to those who contracted hepatitis C and HIV as a result of being given infected blood and blood products from the NHS in the 1970s and 1980s;
(xiii) On 1 December 2004, the then First Minister, Jack McConnell, issued a formal apology to victims of child abuse in residential care homes.

(2) On (i, ii, iii, vi, ix) Scotland’s Redress Scheme was introduced which can offer financial and non financial redress, including apology, to people who were abused while in care as children before 1 December 2004, and some next of kin. On (x) men prosecuted for same-sex sexual activity which is now entirely legal are able to apply to have their convictions erased under the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) Act. On (xii) a Financial Review Group was established to look at improvements to existing financial support for those infected and affected by infected NHS blood and this then led to the establishment of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme.

(3) There are two outstanding requests for apologies as part of Scotland’s Redress Scheme, relating to individuals who were abused as children in care. The Scottish Government does not keep a central record of requests for formal apologies.

(4) There is no formal process for requesting a formal apology from the Scottish Government. Members of the public are free to write to the First Minister, other Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Government at any time to make the case for a formal apology. There is no set process for deciding if a formal apology should be granted but it would be typical for such apologies to be agreed by the Scottish Cabinet.

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