Neil Gray insists commitment to National Care Service
The Scottish government is again delaying its flagship plans for a National Care Service - but denies reports that the policy has been dropped.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said he was "absolutely committed" to the scheme, which aims to transfer responsibility for social care away from councils to a new national body.
Opposition parties are opposed to the plans, which have already been delayed by three years due to financial pressures and uncertainty over costs.
The Scottish government said that it needed time to consider views and a new timetable would be worked out in the new year.
MSPs were due to consider potential amendments to the bill later this month.
The health secretary said that the government was "considering all options".
Gray said there had been no decisions yet as to how the final bill would be formulated as he sought support to pass the legislation.
