20/12/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on the national news,

Scotland has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis and the world.

Annex bird is urging the government to tackle the problem by adding

vitamin D to our food. -- and expert.

Rail fares are to rise by 6 %. Rail bosses say it is to improve

services. A find out what are the most

unusual and popular baby names of 2011.

We had a poker hunters and a Hercules.

What the visitors to Edinburgh Zoo are picking up from the penguins as

they queue outside the new panda enclosure.

Scotland has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world and

the condition is strongly linked to a lack of vitamin D. Now an Oxford

University professor says the situation is so dire that essential

foodstuffs should be fortified with vitamin D. Professor George Ebers

says that otherwise the Scottish government is leaving itself open

to legal action from people who go on to develop multiple sclerosis.

George and Catherine have spent most of their lives in Orkney. When

Catherine collapsed, she knew what the diagnosis would be.

I thought, this is air mass. I had a neighbour who died. -- this is

multiple sclerosis. A lot of people here have it.

Scotland has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the planet.

In Orkney the rate is even higher than the Scottish average. In

recent years the evidence has grown but this is due to a deficiency of

vitamin D, the nutrient the body gets from sunshine and some foods.

Other countries further north get less sunshine but they have diets

containing more oily fish, which tops up vitamin D in the winter.

Scots have lowest levels of vitamin D in the world. An Oxford

University professor says that Scotland should be adding vitamin D

E two the diet and that was recommended by a group of experts

in 2010. -- to the diet. We went to a lot of trouble. All of

the people we thought it knew the most about this in the world came

to Glasgow, made some recommendations and there has been

no feedback from the Scottish government at all. Do you think

people who go on to develop multiple sclerosis in the years

ahead would be able to look back at this and perhaps accuse the

government of not acting? Absolutely pulsed -- absolutely. I

think that will happen in the future.

The government's top medical adviser said he worried -- welcomed

the debate but a broader scientific consensus was needed before vitamin

D tablets could be added to the diet. He said he was guided by the

Scientific Advisory Committee on nutrition, which is due to report

in 2014. Can Scotland afford to wait that long? New evidence is

emerging. Our vitamin D levels affect not only our chances of

getting multiple sclerosis but also that of our children and our

children's children. What sort of advice are people in

Scotland getting at the moment about vitamin D? Following the

report in 2010 the Scottish government issued advice for

certain groups but they should take vitamin D supplements - pregnant

people, people with darker skin. Or so, it is quite hard to get vitamin

D supplements. Probably the best source is cod liver oil. But the

current advice is not easy to follow. There is also the question

of whether you can have too much vitamin D. Professor mack says that

the kind of supplement we are talking about has already been

approved by the Institute of Medicine in the US. -- Professor

George Ebers. If this really is a simple solution to the problem, it

is something we should investigate urgently.

Thank you. Rail fares and Scotland are to rise by 6 % in January.

ScotRail says that the increase is necessary to help the company

continued to make improvements to services.

Prices are rising again, this time it is train fares. For rail

commuters, getting to work is about to get more expensive, with fares

rising 6 % in the new year. I think the fares are shocking. The

company should be nationalised. just get the bus. You just think,

should I do something else? It is excessive when pensions are frozen.

This only means a few pence on most people's fares but it does add up.

The Glasgow to Edinburgh route will cost about �1 extra per day. Over

the course every year commuters will have to find an extra �300. --

the course of a year. Him that is how it will affect other return

journeys. Dundee to Perth will rise from �12.40 to more than �14.

Inverness to Aberdeen costs �44 at the moment. From 2nd January it

will be �46.64. And Aberdeen to Glasgow will rise from Thirties --

from �73.42 �77.80. ScotRail says the money is needed for

improvements. The Scottish government says that rail services

are already heavily subsidised. A 75 % of the cost is subsidised.

Scott will have to answer for this. Them that have been calls for the

rail companies to help out. -- and there have been calls.

They have to have prices people can afford and they have to make sure

that they are advertising their best tickets.

Operators say that only three pence in every pound charged his profits

but this comes at a time when many people's wages are frozen.

A mother who was jailed for killing her three children has been moved

to a psychiatric hospital. To Reza Reddy was sentenced to 16 years in

prison for killing her eight-year- old twins Austin and Luke and her

five-year-old daughter Cecelia. -- to Reza already. She has already

been allegedly attacked twice imprisoned.

Still to come on the programme, what the visitors to Edinburgh Zoo

are picking up from the penguins as they queue outside the new panda

enclosure. In sport, the former Rangers --

Rangers manager Walter Smith tells us why the club should try to hold

on to one strike and try to sign another.

Who would be a referee? One of our reporters gets a crash course.

There are fears tonight that the development of energy projects in

the western and Northern Isles could be under threat as a result

of plans to change the way electricity generators are charged

for connecting to the grid. They may be an increasingly

familiar sight on Scotland's hills but transporting the energy it --

the electricity they generate to consumers comes at a cost. It is

called location based charging and it means that electricity

generators in the south of England can receive subsidies because they

are close to the UK's main centres of population. The renewable injury

-- industry in Scotland tends to miss out because it is producing

power a long way from the big cities in the south. The regulator

reckons that needs to change. It has suggested proposals which would

mean a 60 % drop in charges. Wind farms in Scotland.

Both generators who use the system less will see that reflected in the

charges they pay. It is good for generators in Scotland.

Tidal energy companies had been hoping for good news but the

industry is worried. It fears that the proposals could make it seven

times more expensive to generate green electricity in Scotland's

islands. We are disappointed that the

islands will see very high charges which will put off investors in

those areas. That sense of disappointment echoed

in the islands, especially in Orkney, home to the European Marine

Energy Centre. It is just one of the charges that

are levied. Every charge hurts. The Scottish government says the

present charging regime must change. They say be Ofgem report does not

go far enough and fails to provide a solution for the whole country

including the islands. Jack and Sophie have remained the

most popular baby names in Scotland for the 4th year in a row. Lewis

was the second favourite boy's name while Lily climbed from 9th to 7th,

but there were some surprises registered this year.

Just two and a half days old but the discussions about what to call

this little chap started months ago. My husband and I went through names

that we liked, compared done. Girls it was easy, boy is not so easy. So

we picked Robert, after my dad. Jack might be the top boys' name

over Robert here are some of the variations. In Adam broke and

Aberdeen it is Daniel, in Angus it is Louis. -- Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

In the Western Isles it is Alexander and Harry in East Lothian

and Charlie is your darling in Midlothian. Doing it for the girls,

a live here is favourite in Renfrewshire and in an Edinburgh it

is Jessica. There was a name already picked for this little girl

but when she arrived there was a change of plan.

We had two names, Charlie for a girl and a lover for a boy, --

Oliver. I thought Lucy was more suited in the end. I didn't want

the same name as everybody else so we went with that.

Two little girls this year have been named Caledonia, there is a

Murray and a Firth, and Argyll and two Clyde ats. This midwife has

been developing -- develop -- delivering babies for more than 20

years. Some are named after Disney

characters, we had one named poker According to this list of names for

Scotland last year, there is a Alien somewhere, so good luck to

her. Some of the other stories across

Scotland this Tuesday. Eight drunken conductor who was

left on the platform after his train left without him has been

fined �1,000. Simon Stansfield admitted having excess alcohol in

his system in November. He was told he had put the public at

The flash floods that killed hundreds of people and the

Philippines have washed away the base of Scottish charity Mary's

Meals. It has been providing food and Dumaguete City since to Desmond

six. All volunteers and children are safe.

Scotland's Sports Minister says there will be no overspend on

Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in 2014. Next year's London Olympics

is in danger of exceeding its 9 million pound budget. A memorial

service to has taken place in Stornoway for Sixteen-year-old Liam

Aitchison who was found murdered in the town the week after he went

missing last month. Two men have made a second

appearance in court today charged with killing a teenager. Friends

and family gathered at Stornoway's small Catholic Church to celebrate

the short life of Liam Aitchison. Originally from South Uist, he

moved north to Lewis before being reported missing. His body was

found in this disused former RAF building on the outskirts of

Stornoway. The whole community has been shocked and saddened by the

news of his death and also the question surrounding the manner of

his death. It has caused great heart and many mixed emotions to

people here. Earlier this month, Matthew Wright was forced to

apologise personally after making jokes about the first murder in

Lewes for more than 40 years. His family condemned the Commons as

upsetting, insulting and insensitive. -- the comments. The

last time I spoke to him was the de before he went missing and he was

in very high spirits, saying how he had met the girl of his dreams.

On the day of today's Memorial, two men made a second appearance at

Inverness Sheriff Court, charged with Liam's murder. The men, both

from Lewis, were committed for trial and remanded in custody -- in

custody. He was a Scotsman who helped found the English Football

League and today, his life was commemorated at a ceremony in

Birmingham. William McGregor, originally from

per share, was originally chairman of Aston Villa in 19 century and

was described as a towering figure in world football. -- in the 19th

century. They gathered together in Birmingham to celebrate the life of

William MacGregor, the former chairman of Aston Villa, the

Scotsman who founded the English Football League. All 12 of the

member clubs were celebrated -- represented at a date's service.

Why was it important for you to be here today? To remind people that

he went to Birmingham in 19 century and left an indelible mark on the

club and a leak. -- the 19th century. The fact he came from

Scotland does add a sparkle to the Isle little bit.

His vision for the English Football League caught the imagination of a

nation. He was the brains behind it, he was the guy who set the moral

and persuasive framework that attracted a lot of competing clubs

to be willing to work together for the common good. At a date's

service, he was described as the father of all football leagues, a

towering figure of courage and integrity, the driving force

between -- behind the first organised sports league in the

world. He died exactly 100 years to the day and a Birmingham nursing

home. He was buried here alongside his wife in the grounds of St

Mary's Church in Handsworth. Thanks to the Aston Villa supporters trust,

his gravestone has been cleaned up, restored and engraved with a

permanent reminder of his unique place in English football. Two

years ago, his statue was unveiled outside Villa Park, a permanent

reminder of the inspirational Scot who made the English Football

League a role model for the rest of the leak to follow -- the rest of

the world to follow. And we have the views of another Finn Paul man.

-- another football man. He is the man who managed Rangers to 10

titles, all to Smith. He says it is obvious that the club will

reconsider -- will consider signing Kris Boyd. He was sharing his views

on all things, well, Rangers. Walter Smith and Billy McNeill

pausing for festive posters today. When Walter Smith talks about

Rangers, people listen. The former Ibrox but has plenty to say about

Nicky's a yell of edge. -- has plenty to say about Nikica Jelavic.

He is this subject of speculation about a bid in January. To keep

your lovage -- to keep Nikica Jelavic would help greatly in terms

of Rangers's opportunities of retaining the Championship.

Kris Boyd is looking for a new club after terminating his contract with

a team in Turkey. I wonder what Walter Smith makes of that. He was

a good player for Rangers over the years. He left because he was

offered a better deal and England at the time and then again in

Turkey. From a Rangers point of view, he is one to have all a cat.

-- he is one are to consider. When you get to my age, you're thinking

of retiring anyway, but in a football sense, you find a lot of

people who come to my age and are not involved, if they get an offer

for an opportunity to get back into the game, if I get one, I will

consider it. I would not say I was in retirement at the moment. I am

sure he will be back. Remember the old joke, what you call a Scotsman

at a major football tournament? The referee. Craig Thomson will be

flying the flag for Scotland at the Euro 2012 finals. The national team

did not qualify. Meanwhile, Craig Thomson and his colleagues are

trying to educate journalists on the laws of the game. Some say it

is the toughest job in football, the men in the middle are often

criticised. They feel fans, players and reporters need to brush up on

the rules of football. In a bed to educate, the SFA have handed out

was of the game to the media and invited us to the national stadium

for refereeing course. Let us see how it goes. Here you have,

careless, reckless and using excessive force. With more pressure

than ever on officials to get it right, they want to make sure that

the laws are clear. There is even a test to make sure you have been

listening. The media are usually giving you guys stick, how are you

getting on? It was a mixed bag of results. The pass mark is 80% slide

don't think any of you will be out next week doing games. The media

has a massive responsibility for the Scottish refereeing department.

The other voice and a lot of the fans will listen to what you say

and it is important that, if you are going to comment on decisions,

but you know what you're talking about. Refereeing course over. It

was more difficult than I expected. I did not come first but I did not

come last, either. I do have my certificate to prove I have taken a

course and most importantly, I have this to give to David! I wasn't

going to send him a card either! ESFA well here Peter Pollock's

appeal against his sending-off. -- ESFA. Aberdeen won the game 1-0

thanks to a penalty awarded after this incident. He now faces diving

allegations. Be used to be the most popular attraction in Edinburgh Zoo

but the penguins have not been released -- recently, because of

the arrival of Sunshine and Sweetie, the pandas from China.

Now, it seems they're taking their revenge. It is the visiting queues

to see the pandas batter suffering. Ever since their arrival, Sunshine

and Sweetie have been creating a bit of a stir. But while some of

their neighbours are relaxed about the queues of people waiting to

catch a glimpse, others are becoming party-poopers. When the

public come into this new a closure -- new enclosure, the come through

the penguin enclosure. One of the rock opera Penguin seems to be and

a half! -- seems to be disgruntled! He used pooping on the public!

Jealousy, I suppose. A bit like my daughter, here with her brother!

They have been an attraction for many many years. -- for many, many

years. The zoo is beating up a glass screen. The penguins are

displaying a bit of one-upmanship here against the giant pandas. For

the Penguins, who have been here for a century, they are in no hurry

to end the stand-off. But for the pandas, they do not to seem -- they

do not seem to give a monkey's. Are we allowed to say pooping before

the watershed? I am not sure. Today, we saw many places having a

fine day. Rain building in western part, that band of rain will reach

the country overnight. Tonight, it will turn quite chilly and we will

see a widespread frost. Around space side, into per share and

parts of the Southern champions will see snow. -- into Perth shire.

With that rain and we will see a strengthening wind. -- that rain

band. It will stay chilly in the north-east. Tomorrow morning, we

will see those winds strengthening. That rain will move away north and

east words as we head through the day. Behind it will be a legacy of

cloud. Quite a cloudy, murky and overcast day. But it will be mild,

look at those temperatures, very mild for the time of year. There

will be some heavier rain around the north-west Highlands. As we

head into tomorrow evening, there will be rain in the north and west.

That sets us up for Thursday, where it will be breezy and cloudy. It

will also be very mild again, with highs around 10 or 11 degrees

Celsius. There will be a cold front sinking down across the country on

Friday. It will not be a wet day but it will bring in cold air

behind it. There will be some brightness behind it and also some

wintry showers. That is it from the weather. An Oxford University

professor has called for foodstuffs to be fortified with vitamins D

because of Scotland's higher rate of multiple sclerosis, which is

strongly linked to a deficiency of the vitamin.

Professor George Ebers says that without that, the Scottish

government is opening itself to legal action from people who

develop the disease in the future. An inquiry into the action -- the

right in England has found that live firearms could be used in the

future be in limited circumstances by the police.

Rail fares in Scotland are to rise by 6% in January. ScotRail says the