Victims of serious crime are to be given a much bigger voice in the justice system, The Scotsman has learned. They will get the opportunity to provide a statement in court before their attacker is sentenced, under plans revealed by Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary.

The only cancer centre in the north of Scotland could be forced to close if NHS Highland fails to meet waiting-time targets, the health service’s chairman has warned.

Campaigners have failed in a bid to prevent the closure of a geriatric unit in Helensburgh. Despite local opposition, it has been confirmed that the Jeannie Deans Unit is shutting.

Cancers linked to over-indulgence in food, alcohol and the sun are rising steeply, experts warned yesterday. Incidence of mouth, womb and kidney cancers have climbed in Scotland, according to charity Cancer Research UK.

Colleges are currently providing little more than social care for people with disabilities, according to an equal rights watchdog. The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has warned colleges must overhaul their provision for disabled students to comply with new legislation.

Charities and campaign groups have hailed plans to give children of asylum-seeking families the same access to education as Scottish children. Under plans announced by the Scottish Executive, young children of such families will also be given nursery places in line with recommendations from HM Inspectorate of Education.

Health chiefs in the North-east yesterday backed calls to retain local services for child cancer patients amid concerns they may have to travel hundreds of miles for treatment.

Detailed proposals for new care services for the elderly in the Helensburgh and Lomond area were approved yesterday by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, marking the final chapter for the Jeannie Deans Unit in Helensburgh.

A £3 million one-off grant from the Scottish Government will help looked after children are to get extra help to support the transition to living on their own, and pay for general improvements to residential schools and care homes.

Recruiting staff and prioritising services are the key challenges for Shetland Islands Council’s social work department, according to its chief officer. Brian Doughty’s comments came after the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) determined that the isles social care services delivered well for many people in the isles.