The charges for prescription drugs were finished in Scotland and it has now become a much fairer place, according to the SNP.

A key election pledge that was taken was fulfilled by Nats and it was stated that health care's new era is what Scotland will now enjoy, Deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon insisted.

Per item there was a rise of £7.40 in prescriptions in England.

And Ms Sturgeon, running for the Glasgow Southside seat in the May 5 election, said, "Today, Scotland gets fairer. Under Labour, prescriptions cost nearly £7, under the Tories and Lib Dems in England they are £7.40. This shows what an SNP Government working for Scotland can do."

Free bus passes will be given to war veterans was they qualify for it and for nurses also a `living wage' of £7.15 came.

Sturgeon added that SNP was fair and it was evident with the current changes.

Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott stated that prescription charges at this moment were not right and added that under his party also they would remain free.

The news was welcomed by Scottish Socialist Party spokesman Colin Fox also.