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Scottish ministers consider reparations for Gypsy and Traveller families
The Scottish Government is considering whether to offer reparations to Gypsy and Traveller families affected by past policies intended to settle and assimilate them. The issue follows First Minister John Swinney’s apology last year for poor housing in wartime camps and children being removed from families; ministers say the policies’ effects may continue across generations.
Equalities Minister Simita Kumar said redress raises questions about who would qualify and what evidence would be needed. Historic Environment Scotland has discussed preserving the Bobbin Mill camp near Pitlochry, but residents turned down its offer. The Scottish Human Rights Commission has called for financial compensation, while Conservative and Reform MSPs criticised the proposal as an inappropriate use of public money.
In short
- Ministers are considering reparations for affected Gypsy and Traveller families.
- The proposal follows an apology for wartime camps and family separations.
- Critics oppose using public money for historical compensation.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Reparations could recognise the serious harms caused by state policies that displaced families, imposed poor living conditions and separated children from their relatives. Supporters argue that an apology alone may not address lasting effects across generations, and that carefully designed compensation could provide practical redress and affirm the families’ rights and dignity.
The case against
Critics may accept that past policies caused harm while questioning whether financial reparations are a fair or workable remedy today. Establishing who qualifies and what evidence is sufficient could be difficult, and they may argue that public funds should be allocated through broader services or other measures that benefit affected communities without creating an uncertain compensation scheme.
Explained simply
Gypsy and Traveller communities have distinct cultures and histories, and many families in Scotland have faced policies aimed at making them settle permanently and adopt settled ways of life. In the past, some lived in camps with poor conditions, and children were removed from their families.
The Scottish Government has apologised for some of this treatment and is considering what further redress might involve. That could raise questions about which families were affected and what records or other evidence could show the impact. The Scottish Human Rights Commission has called for financial compensation, while some MSPs oppose using public money for it.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Ministers want to pay historic reparations to gypsies”.