Row over plan to reduce care for disabled

COUNCIL chiefs in Midlothian want to cut care for some disabled children in a bid to plug a £600,000 budget shortfall.

However, the controversial plans have been attacked by opposition councillors, and have been "called in" to be discussed at a meeting next week.

There are 286 disabled children in the county, with 60 of those receiving social care.

The Labour controlled council wants to introduce a "fairer" system, whereby only those with "critical" or "substantial" needs will receive full assistance.

However, opposition councillors claim that up to a quarter of the families currently receiving care may lose out. The plans have been called in by the performance review committee, led by SNP group leader Colin Beattie.

He said: "It's not just numbers we're dealing with, it's people's lives and we have a social responsibility to find out how these lives will be affected."

Colin Anderson, acting director of the social work division, said the new "eligibility criteria" will allow resources to be allocated fairly.

He added: "Failure to confirm eligibility criteria as a permanent policy would jeopardise the council's ability to meet its statutory duties within allocated budgets."

Scotsman, United Kingdom