Government urged to apologise for ‘shameful period’ known as tinker experiment

The government must apologise over the “shameful period” of Scotland’s history known as the “tinker experiment”, a minister has been told.

Between 1940 and 1980, the so-called experiment – supported by councils and the UK government – attempted to strip away the nomadic lifestyle of the Gypsy Traveller community, providing rudimentary and often cramped huts for people to live in.

When families became too big to be housed in the huts, children would sometimes be taken away.

The Scottish Government is carrying out research into the impact of the experiment, which is due to be published by the end of May.

On Thursday, Green MSP Mark Ruskell asked Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart whether the government would issue a formal apology.

He said: “This research must lead to an apology.

“Because generations of families have been impacted by actions sanctioned by the state.”

He said those affected had endured decades of physical and mental ill health and had often been shunned by local communities.

Mr Ruskell added: “I would ask the Scottish Government what further action they can undertake to see meaningful improvements in the lives of those impacted by this truly shameful period in our history.”

Ms Stewart said: “These are complex and sensitive matters and we are committed to getting this right, to provide meaningful answers for everyone who’s been affected.”

The minister said she had spoken to people at the Bobbin Mill site in Pitlochry, one of the sites of the experiments.

She said: “We were driving positive change in tackling inequality for communities across Scotland”.

A plan in September set out “concrete steps” to improve the lives of Gypsy Travellers, she said, recognising that more needs to be done.