Welcoming the announcement of the Scottish Executive’s plans to introduce NHS pay awards in full in April this year – a different approach to that taken in the rest of the UK – Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:

NHS staff are to receive pay increases in full from April 1, as recommded by the independent pay review bodies, following further consideration by the Scottish Executive. Health Minister Andy Kerr said:

Helping organisations that work with children and young people deal quickly and effectively with bullying – wherever it arises – is one of the key aims for the Scottish Executive’s new anti-bullying service: Respectme.

A scheme for victims of crime to tell courts how their lives have been affected is to be rolled out across Scotland. Under the plans, victims will have the opportunity to tell the court the emotional, financial and medical impact the crime has had on them.

An audit is to be carried out into the use of sedatives and other medication in Scotland’s care homes. The Care Commission will assess around 50 of the country’s homes for the elderly as part of an investigation this autumn.

Safety precautions pioneered by airlines and the Army are to be rolled out across the NHS in Scotland after a test scheme showed they could prevent mistakes and save patients’ lives.

The first major council house development in Scotland for 20 years has been unveiled in Midlothian. The houses in Dalkeith are part of a £100m project to build 1,000 new homes.

A long-term strategy, All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population, has been published by the Scottish Executive and outlines the opportunities and choice available to people as they get older.

A foster father found guilty of sexually abusing young girls in his care already had a conviction for lewd and libidinous behaviour when he was approved to look after children.

Around 1000 children are caught with drugs in Scotland every year. The figure, the most robust yet on addiction among the very young, came out yesterday as a high-profile report suggested some illegal substances could be harmless.