Rotherham Council settles seven abuse compensation claims - but won't reveal payouts

In response to a request from the Advertiser under the Freedom of Information Act, the council revealed that just a handful of the claims made by victims and survivors since August 2014 had been settled.

The local authority has received 80 demands for compensation, 70 of which also relate to South Yorkshire Police.

The claims were filed following the publication of the Jay Report, which found more than 1,400 children were sexually exploited in the town between 1997 and 2013, mostly by men of Pakistani heritage.

The Advertiser also asked for details of the total sum in compensation agreed for the claims settled so far and the greatest individual compensation sum.

But the council refused to reveal these details, saying they were exempt from the FOI as proceedsing were ongoing in other claims and releasing the figures could hinder future negotiations.