The body representing Scotland’s 32 councils has called into question the future of free personal care for the elderly.

The Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill, one of the largest pieces of legislation introduced by the Scottish Government, is to come before parliament today.

The number of social workers in Scotland has risen to an all-time high, according to official statistics published today.

SPECULATION continues to surround the future of the Taigh Farrais care home in Forres. Rumours have reached the offices of ‘The Forres Gazette’ that the facility is on the verge of closure as Moray Council reviews its policy on provision of care to disabled people.

A consultant paediatrician told a jury she was as “confident as she can be” that severe injuries suffered by a six-week-old boy were not the result of an accident.

Applications for the Open University in Scotland have surged, it has been revealed. Applications are said to be up 28% so far this year, as more people consider the option of part-time study.

Scottish councils have warned Finance Secretary John Swinney against protecting NHS spending in the predicted round of budget cuts.

Linlithgow is to be made Scotland’s first deaf- aware town under an ­innovative new project run by the national school for the deaf.

A rift between health and council bodies in Glasgow is to result in a major shake-up of services and a cull of management posts in both – which will save hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Highland Council has agreed to abandon its promise to build five new care homes for the elderly across the region. Councillors at Inverness voted 52 to 25 to abandon the scheme after an emotional three hour debate.