Prescription charges in Scotland will be reduced from April 1, 2008, under moves introduced by the Scottish Government.

The changes mean the cost of a single prescription item has been lowered from £6.85 to £5 and the cost of a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC) is 51% cheaper.

Further annual reductions are planned to remove charges altogether by April 1, 2011.

The move will make a significant saving for people who are likely to need large or regular amounts of prescription items throughout the year.

People may find it cheaper to buy a PPC if they need more than three prescription items in a four-month period, or more than nine prescription items in 12 months.

Vulnerable children are leaving care when they are too young, ending up homeless and potentially vulnerable to drug/alcohol problems and unemployment, according to a new report by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Sweet 16? exposes the gap between policy and practice with regard to children and young people leaving care. The Commissioner today warned that, with the highest number of children in care since 1982, more and more young people will struggle to cope with the harsh realities of full independence.

Eight times as many young people leave care at 16 as leave at 18, despite law and policy strongly advising that they should be encouraged to stay in care until they are 18. Many go on to live in bed and breakfasts and hostels for the homeless.  The report highlights the case of a young person who was in a B&B with a convicted murderer as a fellow guest.

VICTIMS of violent crime in Scotland are having to wait months longer than they should to receive state compensation because of police red tape, The Scotsman has learned.

A COUPLE have been told their children must lose weight – or they could be taken into care.

A group of Perthshire residents have won the right to stay in their retirement homes.

A MEAN-MINDED council have cut a £2-a-week payment for people with learning difficulties – after blowing thousands of pounds on globetrotting junkets.

A PRISONER who raped a schoolgirl while on the run was a suitable candidate for an open prison despite a previous conviction for attempted murder and his high risk of reoffending, a report said yesterday.

FAMILIES struggling to cope with disability, bereavement or isolation will be helped by a £300,000 funding boost.

An additional eight million pounds to develop interactive care services for vulnerable people in their own homes was announced today.

A SCOTTISH city council is facing the threat of legal action over controversial plans to axe services to vulnerable and disabled people as part of a £27 million package of budget cuts.