THE scope of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry will not be expanded, its new chairman has insisted, as it emerged the investigation has so far cost £2.5 million.

Lady Anne Smith, the judge appointed to head the troubled inquiry after the resignation of its previous chairman, said she brought 15 years’ experience as a high court judge and judge at the Court of Session to the role.

Abuse campaigners have called for the inquiry’s remit to be widened out to include victims who were targeted outwith residential care.

But Lady Smith said: “The terms of the remit were set when the inquiry began. Their width enables us to investigate the abuse of children in residential care in Scotland ... from within the living memory of anyone who suffered such abuse up to the end of 2014.”

She said the inquiry was already extensive and had gathered “numerous accounts of abuse”.

The inquiry has also published its costs so far, showing they have risen a further £717,000 to a total of £2,518,050 since it was launched. Lady Smith appeared to indicate that the inquiry will continue without replacing Professor Michael Lamb, who quit as a panel member a week before her predecessor as chairman, Susan O’Brien QC, left.

Only one panel member, Glenn Houston, remains.

Lady Smith said: “My fellow panel member Glenn Houston and I are committed to delivering a thorough and conscientious response.” She said there were plans to recruit more staff to the inquiry and secure a venue for taking evidence from those abused in residential care.

The inquiry is urging more witnesses or victims of abuse to come forward.

Lady Smith said: “I would encourage anyone who is able to provide information about such abuse, or about the places where it occurred or about those responsible for them, whether as victim witness or otherwise, to come forward. Talk to us.”

Alan Draper, spokesman for the campaign group In Care Survivors of Abuse (Incas), said Lady Smith’s statement was “disappointing”, claiming it had not addressed campaigners’ concerns.

He called on the deputy first minister to honour a pledge to respond to victims’ concerns.

“We are pleased Lady Smith is calling for people to come forward, but we still haven’t heard from John Swinney about extending the remit of the inquiry or the issue of redress for survivors,” he said.

The news of the Scottish inquiry came as lawyers acting on behalf of abuse survivors wrote to home secretary Amber Rudd, demanding the replacement of the English child abuse inquiry’s chairman, leading Scottish social work expert Professor Alexis Jay. Sarah McSherry, of Imran Khan and Partners, said Ms Jay did not have the necessary legal expertise, and claimed she had a number of possible conflicts of interest, having worked as a social worker. Ms Jay did not reply directly but set out in a statement her plans for taking the inquiry forward.