15/11/2011 Reporting Scotland

A Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news: The

future of Scotland's rail network. Anger at a suggestion that sleeper

services north of the border could be axed or reduced.

The high cost of fuel in a remote committees. Help is on the way -

but not until the spring. We have come to fill up her car, paying

almost �1.43 litre which has about 20p people be on the mainland.

Scotland Under 21s defied the odds after an away win against the

Netherlands. And the touching story of the

Llanishen woman who gave their support to the besieged city of

Leningrad 70 years ago. A? Hangs across cross-border

sleeper services. A Scottish Government consultation document

suggests the number of overnight trains between Scotland and London

could be dramatically reduced. The document is designed to promote

debate about the future of our rail services, but it has already

provoked an angry reaction. There are major changes coming down

the line for Scotland's rail network. Scot Rail's contractor

private passenger services is coming to an end along with funding

arrangements were Network Rail. It must decide what it can and cannot

afford to provide in the future. Mrs the first time that we have had

their new franchises. This is a consultation, this is asking what

people think to come forward with their ideas. Nothing wrong with

that are told. But opposition parties and Holyrood say Marge --

much -- many of the Brussels show that the network companies are run

the railway track. It is a change of direction from the one we have

had 10 years ago. It will force people off the trees and into their

cars. The FT 2014 franchise should be a real opportunity to make it

affordable. The future of sleeper services between Scotland and

London is now up for debate. Tonight a warning that should be a

wake up call for passengers who are being urged to voice their support

for the sleeper. This is a consultation at this stage, but

clearly, any threat to sleeper services is something that the

business community throughout Scotland should be concerned about.

Particularly in the Highlands, but also in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the

central belt. There public has until February to speak out on the

future of our rail services, with the results of the consultation

exercise published later in 2012. And David Millar is with us now.

Enough controversy has been brought This is a wide-ranging proposal.

There could be higher fares at peak times in future on Scotland's

trains. The consumption of alcohol could be banned at all times. We

could see an end to first class sections on trains in a bid to

tackle overcrowding. There is also the possibility that Edinburgh

could be a major hub for cross- border services. If you are

travelling from the south to the north of Scotland, you would have

to get off the floor and is thus trained at Edinburgh and change

trains. This is billed as a consultation document. How much is

an indication of what the Scottish Harman wants to happen?

Scottish Government is adamant this is a consultation exercise only. We

can expect to hear a lot more from politicians, public transport

campaigners, in the weeks and months ahead. But it would be wrong

to suggest this is anything other than that a consultation exercise.

It is clear there are many difficult decisions to be taken,

and not everyone is going to be happy at the end of the line.

Staying with transport issues, a special discount scheme to

counteract rocketing petrol prices are remote communities could be in

place within months. The Westminster Government promised the

move last year but blames delays in Europe for the lack of progress.

The news came as MPs called for a UK-wide planned increase in fuel

duty in the New Year to be abandoned.

It is reckoned the average motorist is paying the Chancellor and �700

in tax every year on a petrol or diesel. Sales figures for a good --

suggest there being more frugal and using less. But some people have no

choice, especially in the more remote areas. It is in Scotland's

Islander minutes where water has have to deal with the highest cost

of petrol. Are you are got the Government was setting up the

discount scheme to cut the costs for violent motorists. But there is

anger that a year run it is still to be put in place. Many people

have to travel up to 70 miles on a round of every day. Where there is

no public transport where they -- it can be caught us. It is

difficult for most people. I pay out and about �250 a month in fuel.

Which is about 20% of her wages. It has a big impact on what I do.

today that the news that the island fuel tax should they came back

early next year. I expect to see full implementation by the spring.

It has to work, not just for the consumers, but for the retailers,

the people who are selling it as well. Their concerns have to be

heard and acted on. As things stand, fuel duty is set to rise again by

three pence a litre at the start of next year. 100,000 people have

signed the petition against it and today many MPs at Westminster calls

for that price tag to be scrapped. When fuel duty was first introduced

in the 1920s, it was a third but its current level in real terms. As

ever tax increases have had the engine of a Rolls-Royce but the

bricks of a lawnmower. But the uncomfortable fact remains, that

whether it is a few pence added are subtracted, tinkering at the

margins will not change the level of prices at the Poms. It looks as

if we will all have to grin and bear it.

That debate about fuel duty is underway. There is due to be a vote

soon. Let's go to our Westminster Correspondent. How is a full likely

to go? This is one of the rare occasions and Westminster were you

have a debate and vote which will not fall down party lines. MPs have

been queuing up, so many have wanted to speak, they have been

told to keep their speeches down to four minutes. They have said the

high a fuel duties are hurting people. The Government will be left

in no doubt by the feeling of MPs. We will see MPs find a firing shot.

The problem for the Treasury is that it is strapped for cash.

Ministers insist that they are listening but they are giving

indications that if they reduce fuel duty on do not go ahead with

increases, extra expenses lot of a firm from else where. You will see

a lot of MPs making it plain to Ministers that they want something

done and they want something done quickly.

You are watching Reporting Scotland: Big on Burns, the new

mural aiming to capture the essence of the epic poem Tam O'Shanter.

And the SPL are now looking at the behaviour of some fancier in

Scotland. Plus, it is total football but not as we know it.

Scotland Under 21s give a lesson to the Dutch.

A fatal accident inquiry into the desert two teenage girls who fell

from the Erskine Bridge heard today that one of the girls who died had

made a pact with a third girl to jump from the bridge. The care

manager from the residential unit in Bishopton where all the girls

has been said that a girl came forward after Neve Lafferty and

Georgia Rowe were identified as the girls have had died. Aileen Clarke

was at Paisley Sheriff Court. Georgia Rowe who was 14 and Neve

Lafferty who was 15 died in October 2009 after falling from the Erskine

Bridge. They were both residents of the Good Shepherd centre in

Bishopton. Today, this woman who was the care

manager at the net will the inquiry that when Neve Lafferty was

readmitted into the net after enough for those, she was not aware

it was a suicide attempt. She told Glee inquiry that the day

after the girls died, another girl who was arrested at the centre to

older then he had approached her weeks before and asked her if she

would jump of their stay in bed with her. The girl said she would

because Neve Lafferty was her friend. She knew Enola Heggie could

not do it. Ms Davenport has holes - - said that the girl told that

Georgia was later invited to join them from jumping off the bridge.

They girl wrote a note for almost Davenport about this. In it she

said, I personally do not believe Georgia wanted to end her life. I

do not think she realised the severity of it. She left to issues

because she thought she would be back. A cry for help?

They know went on, but I knew that Neve Lafferty knew what was

happening. She just wanted one thing, Johnny. And in her mind,

that was the only way. God bless her. The inquiry continues tomorrow.

Boys, who often lag behind in reading, have close the gap and

girls, thanks to a pioneering literacy scheme. Now was the boys

and girls are outperforming those to have not taken part in the

scheme which was rolled out in North manager. So what is the

secret? Researchers say there is no wonder factor. Success has come

from packaging together some of the best teaching methods from around

the world. Horrid Henry hates babysitters.

many boys and girls hate reading. But at his primary school near a

tree, it is a different story. As well swear, children learn early

what sounds letters make so they can sound out unknown words. It

means they can move on quickly to books that have real stories.

will read a book from start to finish and then follow that of the

through. When she was not on the course, it was more of a chore.

wants to pick up the book at home and read it himself. He has more

confidence. They had been taking books to bed and reading it

themselves. 93% of pupils in primary three scored an average

above, compared to 70% of those not on the scheme. And boys recorded

the same results as girls. How come the boys have got up?

is in active programme. Physically active and in terms of using your

mind. Boys respond well to working in pairs, to doing activities, to

be able to talk and discuss. And also the choice of books. Boys are

more interested in books that we are giving them to read. So few

seem to be switching off for long periods. Partly because the teacher

asks more questions, deeper questions and encourages them to

top books with each other. No element in his teaching scheme is

absolutely revolutionary. What the council has done is looked at

research around the world to see what works, then bundled all these

things together to launch it here. And critically, all staff get new

training in the teaching method has been proven to work.

A man accused of attempting to murder a senior lot official has

admitted witnessing the attack. Robert Kramer told the court he

stop the victim getting a bigger hiding. He denies attacking Leslie

Cumming in January 2006. Leslie Cumming was the number two

at the Law Society of Scotland. He was attacked on his way home from

work in January 2006. The assault left him with permanent scars.

Today the managers have tried to kill them admitted he was there but

said he tried to stop the attack. Robert Kramer told the court that

his real name was Paul France's Midi and that had he had been

living in Scotland on a passport that was not his own. He made

inquiries in the construction trade where he worked about getting a new

passport to help them secure a work in other parts of Europe. The court

heard that on 23rd January 2006, a facilitator had made arrangements

for Mr game to get those documents. He told the jury that he had been

brought here to this lane by a man. He had been told they would meet

somebody who would supply Mr Graham with the false passport and

driver's licence. He said they what a little down the lane and then

waited for the man to arrive. He describes a car driving past and

said that the man he knew when to talk to the driver. That is when he

said he noticed a fight breaking out. He said it was him that

intervened and told the attacker off Leslie Cumming. He said I did

not consult them. I stopped him getting a bigger hiding than he got.

Robert Graham said he only learned later that a man who in the car was

Leslie Cumming but he said that he was warned to keep his mouth shut

are something similar might happen to them. Robert Graham denies

�10,000 reward is being offered after a deliberate fire in Glasgow

close to the M8 for several others last week and left thousands of

homes without electricity. Scottish Power said it hoped to the cash

would help the police inquiry at the blaze at an underpass at the M8

near the M8. There was damage to high-voltage power cables.

A one million square foot distribution centre for the

internet retailer Amazon has been officially opened in Dunfermline.

First Minister Alex Salmond has been given a tour of the facility,

which will create 750 permanent jobs. The Warehouse will send goods

around the world. Scottish Parliament is putting in a

planning application for an extension. Holyrood bosses want

permission from Edinburgh City Council to build a new security

screening hall near the front entrance. The parliament has

already spent �2 million on recommended security improvements

since the terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport.

It was an act of kindness which crossed continents. 70 years ago,

the women of Airdrie and Coatbridge in Lanarkshire sent a book of

support to the besieged city of Leningrad. They never knew if it

would ever get there. In June 1941, Nazi Germany launched

an attack on Leningrad. It was to last for nearly 900 days. There was

no heating, no water and very little food. Never 1000 miles away,

people in the towns of Airdrie and Coatbridge heard of their plight.

They wanted to send messages of support so it was decided the women

will write letters. We wanted to let them know the rest of the world

cared. This woman's father was one of the driving forces behind the

book. It was a simple act of humanity that blew up into not just

a local message but a national message and an international

message. We, the women are The book was sent but with

Leningrad being cut off with the outside world, no one knew if it

would get there. Six months after, a telegram was received. The

messages, whilst the bodies were hungry and they have noted, the

messages actually fed their souls. The women of Leningrad responded by

sending an exquisite album of lithographs, photographs and

signatures. We do not know quite how it happened and how they did

manage to smuggle it out and the very idea that something as heavy

as this was a valued so much. Residents in Airdrie and Coatbridge

were overwhelmed. The siege ended in 1944. By then, 750,000 people

had starved to death. This book is kept under lock and key in

temperature controlled conditions. The Scottish Book is held at the

State Museum in St Petersburg and the story of the two Scottish towns

is told in classrooms across the city. The kindness of the people of

Airdrie and Coatbridge will never be forgotten.

And to the sport. Celtic are facing another

investigation after more reports of offensive chanting by their fans.

This time it is the SPL conducting the investigation. UEFA are also

looking into reports of illicit chanting by Celtic fans. Of

reporter is in the newsroom. What are the SPL at exactly

investigating? It all centres around an SPL match between Celtic

and Hibernian at Celtic Park on 29th October. In his report to the

SPL, the police match commander Eddie Smith said there had beat

pro-IRA chanting. It has also be reported there were two arrests

made during the game as well. This is what the SPL operations director

Ian Blair is saying. I am currently And have caused this all comes hot

on the heels of the UEFA investigation into what they

describe as illicit chanting to link Celtic's UEFA leak victory

over Rennes at the start of this month. That disciplinary hearing

will be held on 8th December. are Celtic saying and what

punishment could they be in for if the fans are found guilty? They are

not saying much. They have condemned offensive singing in the

recent past. If found guilty, as it is a first offence, it would

probably be a warning although points deductions and stay

enclosure are also options. -- stadium Enclosure. For the moment

we are away to the SPL's judgment. Scotland's Under-21s have given

themselves a great chance of reaching the European Championships

for the first time in 15 years. A 2-1 away victory over the

Netherlands moved Scotland up to second place in their qualifying

group. Back home with plenty to smile

about. Scotland's Under 21 victory in Holland may have been a surprise

but according to the manager it was deserved. It was a great night. It

is always down to players. They got a performance deserving of the

result. It only takes a minute. COMMENTATOR: A spectacular start

for Scotland! In Jonathan Rhodes' case, it takes less than that. He

scored with just 59 seconds on the clock. A sixth goal in the last

three qualifiers for him giving Scotland an improbable lead against

the group 10 favourites. The Dutch started to look increasingly fluent

but there was a goalkeeping error and out controversial decision to

even things out., total a terrific save from the goalkeeper.

minutes after the break, David Wotherspoon restored the lead for

the visitors. The Dutch goalkeeper could have done better but it was a

fine finish. So a win for Scotland in the Netherlands, boosting their

chances of reaching their first European championships since 1996.

That is all the sport. At 20 metres long and two metres

high, it is not a painting to hang above the fireplace. When

Edinburgh-based artist Christopher Rutter third decided to catch at

the essence off Tam O'Shanter, he realised he had to think big. --

Chris Wood do that. READS TAM 'O SHANTER.

A compilation of key scenes which come together to illustrate the

poem's big picture, victory. We see the drink fuelled imaginations of

witches and demons on a terror fuelled by right home to a wife

nursing her wrath. I like the Skye Bridge his pet pig. It took six

months and here is how it happened. Chris sketched it all first in

meticulous detail before up scaling it on to canvas cover sheets of

private. Pastel and acrylic paints first and then boils protected by a

beeswax. -- oils it was like a conveyor belt of productivity.

People in my studio kept saying, he has not realised quite what he has

left himself in for. I did not think it was in my interest to let

the reality peers my stupidity. I just kept belting on and you get

there in the end. The finished work has been on short-term display

where the tale is set. This really is amazing and the detail and the

covers are fantastic. The response has been just phenomenal. At 68 ft

long by 7 ft high, it is an epic illustration of an epic poem.

Destined eventually for the walls of a pub in Glasgow, to be hung

there for the edification and entertainment of its Drouthy

Let's see what sort of story the Not too bad. It was cloudy today

but a little bit of brightness. We did have a sheet across much of

Scotland. However, clear skies in the North West and parts of the

South West. So some sunshine here. Overnight, fairly cloudy and quite

chilly. In those places we saw clear skies today in the north-west

and the south-west, we will see clear skies overnight tonight. Here

it will turn quite chilly. Lows around freezing. Perhaps below.

Some mist and fog patches forming and some ice. In general, fairly

cloudy and those around -- billows around five or six Celsius.

Tomorrow morning, mist and fog stubborn to clear but once it does,

again a largely dry day. A bit cloudy but as we go through the day,

bright and sunny spells developing. More in the way of sunshine at the

east coast and around the North East and Grampian, which has not

seen that much sunshine. And the favourite spot in the North West.

Some cooler spots where the fog is a bit stubborn to clear. As we had

to tomorrow evening and overnight, clad building on the South West.

This approaching weather front which will push into the West

overnight tonight into Thursday. Very heavy bursts of within that

although largely light and patchy. That sets us up for Thursday, which

will be quite cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the West. A drier and

brighter evening towards the east. Into Thursday night and we have a

similar thing happening. Overnight, a gain a weather front pushing in

across the country. However, that will linger with us for much of

Friday. More of a showery picture eventually. Friday is showery.

Pretty mild. We will keep that for Before we go, a summary of

tonight's main stories: The public backlash against higher fuel prices

reached the UK parliament today with a boat at recording on the

Government to hold motoring costs down. A special discount scheme to

counteract rocketing petrol prices in island communities and rural

areas in Scotland could be in place within months.

The future of cross-border sleeper services is under renewed scrutiny

following the publication of a consultation document which suggest

the number of overnight trains between Scotland and London could

be dramatically reduced. The document is designed to promote