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Two councils pay £3m to child sexual abuse victims | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A council has paid out nearly £3m to people sexually abused as children while in their care. | |
Nottinghamshire County Council said it had paid £2.96m to 161 people who made claims, while Nottingham City Council gave nearly £350,000 in compensation to 64 claimants. | Nottinghamshire County Council said it had paid £2.96m to 161 people who made claims, while Nottingham City Council gave nearly £350,000 in compensation to 64 claimants. |
Both authorities apologised for failings, which were the subject of an inquiry last year. | Both authorities apologised for failings, which were the subject of an inquiry last year. |
Victims and survivors have called for more support. | Victims and survivors have called for more support. |
Nottinghamshire County Council issued a public apology in January 2018, with the city council following suit shortly before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) began its Nottinghamshire hearings last year. | Nottinghamshire County Council issued a public apology in January 2018, with the city council following suit shortly before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) began its Nottinghamshire hearings last year. |
From 1974 until 1998 - a time when dozens of children in residential homes and foster care said they were sexually abused - the two councils existed as a single authority. | From 1974 until 1998 - a time when dozens of children in residential homes and foster care said they were sexually abused - the two councils existed as a single authority. |
The county council said it had settled 47 claims without payment and had another 85 cases pending settlement; while the city council said it had 16 cases awaiting a decision. | The county council said it had settled 47 claims without payment and had another 85 cases pending settlement; while the city council said it had 16 cases awaiting a decision. |
County council leader Kay Cutts said the authority had improved its process for handling claims, reducing the time to settle "from years to a matter of months" in most cases. | County council leader Kay Cutts said the authority had improved its process for handling claims, reducing the time to settle "from years to a matter of months" in most cases. |
"To the survivors whose lives were blighted and damaged by the abuse you suffered, I am sorry for what you endured," she said. | "To the survivors whose lives were blighted and damaged by the abuse you suffered, I am sorry for what you endured," she said. |
David Hollas, an advocate for children abused in care in Nottinghamshire, said the claims "have never been about the money" but about recognising what happened to victims. | David Hollas, an advocate for children abused in care in Nottinghamshire, said the claims "have never been about the money" but about recognising what happened to victims. |
Calling for the councils to provide more support to survivors, he said: "They may have said sorry, but have done little else. | Calling for the councils to provide more support to survivors, he said: "They may have said sorry, but have done little else. |
"We welcome the fact that the scale of abuse is now a matter of public record, as is the failure of the councils to keep children in their care safe." | "We welcome the fact that the scale of abuse is now a matter of public record, as is the failure of the councils to keep children in their care safe." |
IICSA is due to issue its report into the care system in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire on 31 July. | IICSA is due to issue its report into the care system in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire on 31 July. |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
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