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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Historical abuse inquiry announced by Scottish government | Historical abuse inquiry announced by Scottish government |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish government has announced a statutory public inquiry into the historical sex abuse of children in care. | The Scottish government has announced a statutory public inquiry into the historical sex abuse of children in care. |
| Education Secretary Angel Constance said the inquiry would have powers to force witnesses to give evidence. | |
| She said abusers would "face the full force of the law" where it brought to light evidence of crimes. | |
| The move followed scandals involving child abuse at institutions including those run by the Roman Catholic church. | The move followed scandals involving child abuse at institutions including those run by the Roman Catholic church. |
| Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Constance said the full remit of the inquiry would be confirmed by the end of April 2015, following discussions with the survivors of abuse, which would begin in January. | |
| She said: "This parliament must always be on the side of victims of abuse. | She said: "This parliament must always be on the side of victims of abuse. |
| "We must have the truth of what happened to them and how those organisations and individuals into whose care the children were entrusted, failed them so catastrophically. | "We must have the truth of what happened to them and how those organisations and individuals into whose care the children were entrusted, failed them so catastrophically. |
| "And to get to that truth, we will be establishing a national public inquiry into historical abuse of children in institutional care." | "And to get to that truth, we will be establishing a national public inquiry into historical abuse of children in institutional care." |
| Ms Constance added: "To ensure justice is done, I can tell this chamber that, where crimes are exposed, the full force of the law will be available to bring perpetrators to account." | Ms Constance added: "To ensure justice is done, I can tell this chamber that, where crimes are exposed, the full force of the law will be available to bring perpetrators to account." |
| The education secretary also said measures would be put in place to ensure the inquiry did not interfere with any on-going criminal investigations or prosecutions. | |
| And Ms Constance said she would "take on board" calls from campaigners to set aside the legal time bar which stopped historical cases coming to court. | |
| Her announcement came 10 years after former First Minister Jack McConnell offered an apology to victims of abuse in children's homes, but at the time stopped short of agreeing to a full public inquiry. | |
| Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said of the inquiry announcement: "It is a welcome decision. In truth, it should have happened sooner." |