Henry McLeish, the former First Minister, yesterday insisted free personal care for the elderly was affordable in the long term, provided ministers had the political will to see it through.

By any measure, the rise in autism rates in the past 20 years has been astronomical. Pre-1990 estimates put the number at about four or five cases per 10,000 people. But a study published last year in the medical journal the Lancet suggested that the condition now affects one person in every hundred.

The Salvation Army may have to admit people with disruptive behaviour to its centre in Inverness to ensure continued support from Highland Council. Huntly House has received local authority funding since 1984.

More than 70 organisations across Scotland will receive a share of #1.3m from the Voluntary Sector Development Fund. The cash boost will help these organisations increase the standard and variety of staff training – helping them to improve the service they offer to clients.  

An 87 year old woman died after staff in an old folks home didn’t realise she had a broken hip. Carers thought Margaret Carroll had injured her ankle when they saw her limping.

Scotland’s education system is failing hundreds of the country’s most vulnerable youngsters, bringing misery to families, an investigation by The Scotsman has revealed.

Prisoners in Scotland are to be offered cognitive therapy to tackle growing problems with alcohol-related violence and health problems. The first study of its kind has revealed that two in five prisoners have problems with alcohol misuse, compared with one in eight people in the population at large.

The City of Edinburgh Council is being asked on 1 February to reimburse older people who have been charged for help at home in preparing meals or food.  Refunds to 820 current service users will take some time to process but should all be made by the end of March.

Over one hundred delegates will be present at the Glasgow Science Centre today to attend an innovative conference that aims to demystify some of the latest learning technologies. The event is being hosted by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (SIESWE).

A woman is suing the NHS 24 helpline service for £750,000 in damages over the death of her partner. Father-of-two Steven Wiseman died in December 2004 at the age of 30 after complaining of flu-like symptoms. His partner Kerry Robertson, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, is now seeking compensation.