Survivors of child abuse in care will be able to get an apology and a cash pay out with the launch of a scheme to acknowledge their suffering.

Redress Scotland will see those who qualify get a payment of between £10,000 and £100,000.

The scheme has now opened for applications and Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, invited people to apply.

People who suffered abuse while in care are eligible to apply with a team of government case workers available to help guide people through the process.

Swinney said: “Across Parliament, we have come together to confront the scale and horror of the abuse Scotland’s most vulnerable children suffered.

“We cannot make up for that pain, and we cannot take away the devastating impact it has had on people’s lives.

“But we can provide acknowledgement and tangible recognition of the harm caused, by offering redress to survivors through this scheme.”

Organisations that were responsible for the care of children at the time of the abuse have been asked to participate in Scotland’s Redress Scheme, and to make fair and meaningful financial contributions to redress payments for survivors.

Making a financial contribution was something survivors said they wanted in successive consultations on the scheme.

As well as the Scottish Government providing cash, organisations were children suffered abuse are among the financial contributors to the scheme.

The list includes local authorities, through Cosla, who will contribute £100m and have their contribution deducted from their budget from the government over a number of years.

It includes Aberlour Childcare Trust who will contribute up to £1.6m, Barnardos, £1.25m, The daughter’s of charity of St Vincent de Paul, £10m, Rossie Young People’s Trust, £500,000, Save the Children UK, £500,000.

Poor Servants of the Mother of God, and The Salesians of Don Bosco, have agreed to “Pay agreed proportion of all determined cases where relevant as a place where abuse took place.”

Johnny Gwynne, Redress Scotland Chair, said: “This is an important day in the lives of survivors for whom this scheme is intended, and a milestone in Scotland’s journey to addressing some of the deeply troubling incidents in its past.

“The Redress Scotland team and panel members consider it a privilege to be able to undertake this significant work.

“We stand ready to receive and make decisions on applications for redress.”

The Redress Scotland scheme was supported by all political parties, who backed the legislation to create it in the Scottish Parliament