Scottish Labour leader pledges nearly £1bn to provide free care for older people

Anas Sarwar believes totally integrating social and health care is essential to NHS reform

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has pledged to spend nearly 1bn to provide free residential care for all elderly people and free home care in a bid to address Labour's slump in support.

Sarwar said Scottish Labour planned to expand the ethos of the NHS, which provides free care regardless of income, to the social care service. He said totally integrating social and health care provision was an essential prerequisite for NHS reform.