Ministers plan to change the alcohol licensing legislation following fears that criminals could be granted licences because of a loophole in the law.

SCOTLAND and England need to be much more co- operative when dealing with health concerns, rather than relying on ad-hoc arrangements which could be at risk from party politics, a report warns today.

More than 1,000 jobs face the axe at crisis-hit Aberdeen City Council as troubleshooters try to balance the books.

Former first minister Jack McConnell is to become an ambassador for a national children’s charity. The Motherwell and Wishaw MSP agreed to take on the role at NCH to promote its work in supporting vulnerable children across the UK.

A COUPLE face being booted off the charity they founded to help young Scots with learning disabilites. Alistair and Joanna McGregor have been under investigation after a string of misconduct complaints to the Scottish Charity Regulator.

A LEADING child welfare group is demanding an independent inquiry into the handling of sexual abuse cases, after a paedophile abused two sisters while under the supervision of social workers.

A former youth worker has been jailed for 10 years for abusing two teenage boys at a care home in North Ayrshire.

Police have rescued 59 women trafficked into Scotland’s booming off-street sex industry.

Despite pleas by social work chiefs, Peeblesshire councillors have rejected a bid by foster carers to continue looking after vulnerable children.

An end to almost all short jail terms was signalled yesterday under radical plans from the Scottish Government’s Prison’s Commission. Instead, offenders would face a simplified, toughened community sentence.