Scientists in Dundee carrying out research into asthma believe they have made a breakthrough which could alter the treatment of the condition. The University of Dundee team announced last year that they had identified the gene producing the protein filaggrin which causes asthma and eczema.

Fife Council’s social work staff have suffered more than 1300 physical assaults in the past five years. According to figures from the local authority, staff working in the service have reported 1304 acts of violence by service users since 2002.

The man leading Scotland’s fight against organised crime is investigating Scandinavian-style get-tough policies on drugs.

More than 20 pupils with special needs have been told they must leave their dedicated school and transfer instead to a mixed campus, a council has announced.

The Scottish Parliament will be asked this week to support a charity that cares for sufferers of one of nature’s cruellest diseases.

Women in Scotland are choosing to go into prison – and stay there longer – because their lives on the outside are so chaotic, according to a new EU-funded report.

Rapists are almost ten times more likely to be found guilty in some parts of Scotland than in others. A conviction rate of less than 1 per cent in the Grampian area has sparked questions over the way some police forces are investigating the crime.

More than 90% of children with learning disabilities are bullied, according to a report from Enable Scotland. The charity said most of these children faced a lonely summer holiday in their homes, afraid to venture out to the park or even go out in the street.

Highland Council is poised to make a major U-turn by building five new care homes. The proposal will be put to the full council at the end of this month.

A paedophile has been jailed in Canada for abusing two young boys, after being caught in Dalkeith by Lothian and Borders Police. Officers found pornographic images of children on Graeme Brown’s computer when they raided a house where he was working as an au pair, looking after three young boys.