The system of direct payments that has been in force in recent years has not had in Scotland the success that was hoped for when it was introduced, with some local authorities preferring to continue with their traditional role of provision, rather than to free up users to purchase the care services that they feel would be best suited to their needs.I remember when I was a councillor in Aberdeen that there was a degree of reluctance in the social work department to encourage the use of direct payments, and a slightly paternalistic attitude that the professionals knew best what was in the best interests of their clients.