Scotland’s smallest local authority has devolved services to local area boards in an attempt to improve the prospects of vulnerable young people.

Hundreds of video witness statements made by child abuse victims were unusable in court because the recordings were of such poor quality. A three-year Scottish Executive pilot project used shop-bought video equipment to record evidence given by vulnerable children when they spoke to police and social workers.

Hundreds of children whose parents are drug addicts face the risk of being taken into care because of a “moral panic” over the issue, Scotland’s drug and alcohol tsar has warned.

Alcohol and drug addiction among teenagers in Glasgow is to be treated with a new form of therapy that involves their family. A pilot project will see about 40 teenagers with addictions take part in family therapy.

Criminals in Scotland are to be given vitamins in an innovative attempt to cut violence and antisocial behaviour. Inmates at a Scottish prison are to take part in a government-sponsored study to determine whether healthy eating can help influence behaviour.

Concern is mounting for the jobs of 600 staff at the crisis-hit One Plus, one of Scotland’s biggest after-school and nursery providers. The company, which owned a chain of creches which collapsed last month, has told unions staff may not be paid after tomorrow.