He seems to many of us to have marched us up to the top of the hill - I hope he's not going to march us back down

Sir Stewart Sutherland

The Royal Commission chaired by Sir Stewart recommended that all nursing and personal care costs of the elderly should be free.

At present nursing care is free, but there is a charge for personal care - and such a change would come with a �110m price tag.

Health Minister Susan Deacon initially rejected this because it was deemed too costly.

When Henry McLeish became first minister last year he hinted there could be a change of policy on the issue.

On Sunday, he said his proposals - which will be detailed to the Scottish Parliament next week - would be "radical" and distinctively Scottish.

Sir Stewart Sutherland recommended free care

However, newspaper reports have suggested that ministers have bowed to pressure from Westminster colleagues and will stop short of implementing the report in full.

The executive - which denied the reports - was also said to be looking at phasing in any changes over the next two years.

Speaking on Sunday, Sir Stewart said he was waiting to hear what Mr McLeish announced.

"He seems to many of us to have marched us up to the top of the hill - I hope he's not going to march us back down," he said.

The Royal Commission had accepted that there might be a phased introduction of its recommendations.

'Clear statement'

"Systems have got to be set up and the government will want to have spending plans over the next few years.

"But what we want is a clear statement that this demand will be met, with a date on it," said Sir Stewart.

He also agreed that there was "a major problem developing" over the lack of investment in nursing homes.

He blamed this on the "prevarication" of the Westminster government and the Scottish Executive.

Henry McLeish promised a "distinctive" policy

"People have not been investing in residential accommodation, and nor will they until that is clear," he said.

"They don't see a lot of point investing until they see what way the cookie is going to crumble."

Writing in the News of the World on Sunday, Mr McLeish said it was important that parliament was the first to hear details of the "radical new initiative" on care of the elderly.

But he said: "I promise you this - it will be, as I always promised you it will be, a distinctive Scottish policy formulated for Scotland."

Meanwhile, Lord Lipsey, who was a member of the Royal Commission, denied reports that he had been sent to Scotland by Tony Blair as an enforcer to stop the full implementation of the Sutherland report.

The whole of the Highlands could be turned into one big nursing home

Lord Lipsey

However, he told BBC Scotland's Holyrood programme that the Scottish Executive could only pay for the move by cutting services.

And he warned: "It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the whole of the Highlands could be turned into one big nursing home where better off English people are being cared for by Scottish people at the expense of the tax payer."

But that suggestion was dismissed by Sir Stewart, who said: "I think he's being a bit over the top".

And he said the �110m cost of free personal care amounted to a third of a penny on income in tax terms.