13/01/2012 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news.

A new row over the independence referendum as Alex Salmond invites

the Prime Minister for talks, but Nick Clegg says he's got to deal

with the Scottish Secretary instead. The Scottish rugby international,

Rory Lamont, apologises after using Twitter to describe President Obama

as a whore. Also in the programme tonight.

The French breast implant scandal. A group of Scottish woman say

they're planning legal action against the private firms who

provided them. I paid nearly �4,000 for these implants and they have

been proven to be a risk to my health and they could go at any

time and now I am being told they have to pay again.

And can Andy Murray finally win a grand slam title?

He's hoping he can go one better at the Australian open and put behind

his defeat by Djokovic in last The First Minister Alex Salmond

says he wants to hold face-to-face talks with David Cameron about the

independence referendum. Mr Salmond was speaking in Dublin at a summit

meeting he attended with the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Earlier,

the First Minister accused Westminster of bullying and

hectoring. As Tim Reid reports, the week's events are being noted far

Scotland's constitutional future is making the news around the world.

This tie one cartoon is not perhaps how the British media would depict

the battle. == Taiwan. At a meeting of the British and Irish Council

and Dublin, relations look healthier but the UK Government

dismissed accusations of bullying from Alex Salmond. Far from

accusing him of bullying, we have said we will give to the Scottish

government the power to a hold the referendum and illegally

unambiguous manner. With Westminster and Edinburgh at odds

over the question, a jovial offer from Northern Ireland to use

dormant for peace talks. We have a castle in Belfast and I am sure we

would be prepared to make it available for peace discussions.

The First Minister says he is willing to host a attend formal

talks with the Prime Minister. are happy to talk and will not be

intimidated or delayed or talk down to or have a stunning spooled. The

extraordinary mandate of the Scottish National Party from the

Scottish people should lead to a constructive discussion and let us

not play games. Whatever the outcome - unlikely to be as

dramatic as some might think. A lot of public rhetoric one where

the other today, what is going on behind the scenes?

Despite some of those scenes today, here the war of words continues.

Government sources say it is contradictory that Alex Salmond is

inviting the Prime Minister to talks in Edinburgh when earlier

this week he said Westminster should but out of the campaign.

There was a warning today that Alex Salmond had been invited to talks

but has not replied. He said he replied today and said that Michael

Moore can attend the talks but what is going on today his political

brinkmanship. In the coming days, there will be lots more of that to

come. And here's Isabel Fraser with a

look ahead to this week's new-look Sunday Politics Scotland.

Who says the constitution cannot put the heather on fire? After a

remarkable week, we speak to the First Minister and the Scottish

Secretary in the all new Sunday politics Scotland.

Network Rail is to be prosecuted for a train crash in Cumbria, which

killed a woman from Scotland. An inquest into the death of Margaret

Masson from Glasgow revealed that faulty points on the track were to

blame for the derailment. Now rail bosses could face an unlimited fine.

Laura Bicker reports. The Virgin train derailed at 95 mph

with all passengers flying on this embankment. Among the passengers -

84-year-old Margaret Masson from Glasgow the died from multiple

injuries. 86 others were injured. An inquest into the pensioner's

death ruled that poorly maintained points were to blame. They were

degraded and unchecked. This in junior admitted he had forgotten to

inspect them but Margaret Masson's family have said they feel he is

not solely responsible. This man was sincere, showed remorse and he

has my utmost respect. My family will not hold anything against him.

I met him and shook his hand and thank him for what he tried to do

and nobody listened to him. Today, nearly five years after the crash,

Network Rail will face prosecution. It seems to me that the prosecution

of Network Rail is inappropriate and natural consequence given the

evidence that came out. -- and The charges relate to breaches of

health and safety regulations. If found guilty, Network Rail will

face an unlimited fine. Many of those caught up in this chaos say

they simply want justice done. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on the programme.

There's a new look for Scotland's oldest newspaper but it comes as

the industry suffers falling circulation.

Andy Murray's new coach tells us that people are being too critical

of the world No. Four. We're in Australia for the dock of the

world's worst -- first Grand Slam A Scotland rugby international has

apologised after describing the US President Barack Obama as a whore.

Rory Lamont used the Twitter social network to make disparaging remarks

about a number of world politicians, including David Cameron and the

German chancellor, Angela Merkel. Annie McGuire has the details.

This social media site Twitter is teaming with Scottish courts people,

with everyone from the head of the SFA to Andy Murray using the site.

-- sports people. Their views and the language used

by Scottish rugby international or Rory Lamont go beyond the normal

fare. Tweeting on 4th January, he In March last year, he told David

Cameron to pay down over Colonel Gaddafi using one of the most

offensive words and the English language. Despite his sponsorship,

he has tweets criticising bankers and the involvement of Germany in

the Urals on crisis is compared to Hitler. This is taken seriously and

the Scottish Rugby Union gave players this lecture before last

year's Six Nations. Remember, with Twitter, Facebook and so on, it is

not about you because you represent Scotland. Your comments and photos

and videos will be circulated among more than just your friends. Is he

behaving in a way befitting a The Celtic manager Neil Lennon as

another Twitter user but fully understands the risks involved.

would rather they kept their views on other areas of their life. I

didn't think our players are intelligent enough to docker that

politics. Rory Lamont remains on Twitter but for sporting bodies,

the question of how to manage players and an internet age remains

a concern. And you can hear more on that story in Sport Nation with

John Beattie, tomorrow morning on BBC Radio Scotland, at 9am.

Police investigating the disappearance of a man in East

Renfrewshire believe they have found his body in water close to

where he was last seen. 48-year-old Derek MacInulty, from Burnbank in

Hamilton was seen leaving a newsagent in Eaglesham on 3rd

January. A car, thought to be his, has been found in a river nearby. A

post-mortem examination will be held to establish the cause of

death. A group of women in Scotland who

received PIP breast implants are planning to take legal action

against the private firms who provided them. Although the UK

government says there's no evidence that they pose a higher risk to

women's health than other implants, women who had the implants on the

NHS can have them removed free of charge. But private firms are

refusing to pay the cost of removing them. Julie Peacock

reports. Trawling the Internet for

information. This women received and plants from a private clinic in

2004. It has emerged that some were made with industrial grade silicone

which could cause a threat if it ruptures. She wants them removed

but the clinic says it will cost almost �3,000. I paid �4,000 nearly

four those implants and now they have been proven to be made with

mattress filler, there a risk to my health and could go at any time. I

am being told I need to pay again so they will make a profit on the

needing a replacement. I think it is a scandal. Now she and many

others are taking legal action against the firms who are refusing

to remove them free of charge. The UK Government says there is no

clear evidence of an increased risk of harm. Even so, NHS patients can

have them removed for to be if they want. Both the UK and Scottish

government have arched private clinics to do the same but some

have refused. Lawyers say that is illegal. They were quick enough to

take the money in the first place. It seems clear from the evidence in

France that the goods were not a satisfactory quality and on that

basis, the legislation is clear. They must pay for them to be

replaced and there must be compensation. Private clinics like

this both used these implants on Scottish patients. The body which

represents them says it is not their responsibility to remove them.

It says it trusted the advice of the Department of Health and the

standards regulator who said these implants were safety used. It is up

to the Government to meet the costs of removing them. Wiseman Dairies,

Britain's biggest fresh milk supplier and one of Scotland's

largest companies, is in talks about a possible takeover offer

from Germany's Muller dairies. The East Kilbride-based company made

the announcement to the stock market, after a surge in its share

price. Stock market rules say Muller has until the 10th February

to make a formal offer or pull out of talks.

A look now at what else has been happening across the country this

Friday. Network Rail plan to place barriers

that all 23 open a level-crossing across Scotland. At trial at two

crossings and Ardrossan proved successful. They will be much safer

than they are at the moment with a physical barrier coming down in

front of people. People will have no excuse.

30 firefighters tackle major blaze at the Aberdeenshire roofing firm.

The a 90 had to be closed for four hours because of smoke.

More than 300 classroom assistants threatened with redundancy last

year will now be kept on by Highland Council but retrained as

pupil Support assistants. It is a turnaround from budget cuts

announced last year. Growing fears about the safety of

schoolchildren being ferried by bought around a closed still roam

road. The road was shut after a landslide in December.

Harris tweed Hebrides predict another growth here for the

industry and have kicked off 2012 by naming says career as a new

target market. We are already 25% ahead in terms of orders and we

wear at this time last year and that is encouraging.

Super-fast broad band could be available in the Highlands and

Islands by the start of next year. A project being carried out is the

largest rural broad band initiative it anywhere in the UK.

Talks have begun to try to save the Borders three remaining youth

hostels. The Scottish hostels Association say it is no longer

viable but to a script on them to stay.

More on those and other stories on The downward trend in daily

newspaper sales has been confirmed again by the release of the latest

circulation figures. All of Scotland's daily titles, with the

exception of the Mail, have lost readers. Not included in the

figures was the Aberdeen-based Press and Journal, which today made

a little bit of history by publishing for the last time as a

broadsheet. From now on, it will only be available in tabloid format.

But will that be enough to keep sales up? A little piece of

printing history, as the last broadsheet press in general ward

off the presses. After today, only tabloid sized versions of the

newspaper will be available on the street. It is a significant change

after 250 years. The compact version is not new and was phased

in eight years ago. The current editor says it should not be a

shock to readers. His it is something of a gamble. It is the

bold step and an innovator step. But we're very positive about their

reactions or four. It is an evolutionary step. Readers are

drifting away from newspapers at an alarming rate. Circulation figures

show the Herald suffered a fall of nearly one 5th in the second half

of last year. The Scotsman dropped, as the de daily record, both by

over seven %. But this lecturer says the Press and Journal was one

of the best that slowing the decline. It is any area which is

economically very strong and they have a strong brand. They are able

to secure a much bigger share of the market. But in common with all

newspapers, they are having to always look for words. When the

Titanic sank 100 years ago, it was reported in the paper that it was

reported as a Aberdeen man lost its sea. That is not a true story, but

the current owners hope that today's change will see the paper

ceiling too much colder waters. BBC Scotland has learned that a new

funding package is being worked out to get more schoolchildren to take

part in physical education. At the moment, fewer than one quarter of

Scotland's secondary schools are delivering two hours of PE a week.

Gymnastic class in the 2012 in the East End. Much of the talk is about

the Commonwealth Games in two years' time. I think we will get a

lot out of the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. I think it

could be a very important legacy. as well improving the weekly stats

for physical education. Less than one quarter of secondary schools

offered to hours per week. There are many obstacles to overcome if

the Scottish government is to deliver and the pledge to deliver

two hours of PE a week by 2014. One man with a vision to improve

physical education knows we must capitalise on the Olympic and

Commonwealth Games legacy. It would be embarrassing if we had such high

profile events in or country and did not do something for young

people in the future. It would be criminal and embarrassing. But as

Glasgow builds towards 2014, is there going to be any legacy?

hard to see if there will be any legacy and it is probably more

important that we concentrate on things which we know contribute to

poor health, such as poverty and poor housing. I have learned their

new finances are being put together by the Scottish government as it

tries to reach its target for physical education. We should know

the details of a funding package in the next few weeks. No, it is time

for us all to hold our breath again, as Andy Murray goes for another

major title? Andy Murray's coach says his

protege is getting too much criticism for his failure to win a

major tournament. Eight-time major winner Ivan Lendl has only been in

post since December, but some believe he could help Murray break

his duck. If he is to do it at Australian Open over next fortnight,

he will have to overcome some tough opponents, starting with America's

Ryan Harrison. The job could have been kinder for Andy Murray. To get

to the final, he may have to beat Joe Wilfred song Gatt and Novak

Djokovic. How does that leave his title chances? I think he has got

the 4th best chance. Obviously, after the top three days, I think

he has made progress, but I think that is why he hired Ivan Lendl. He

knows he has got to get better. It is going to be interesting. They

knew a coach was tight-lipped on how he would help Andy Murray.

am not going to go into any game things or what is going to happen

on court. I think it is just having someone around to has been there

and played a very similar game. It is someone to talk to and to listen

to. Many people now see Ivan Lendl as the missing piece in the Andy

Murray's puzzle. He has lost three Grand Slam finals, including two

here in Melbourne. His new course things that is harsh. I think it

has been very harsh. It is the same as I got when I was losing to John

McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. Perhaps the only way to silence the critics is

to win here in Australia. Rangers have offered a contract to

the Swedish midfielder - Mervan Celik He is one of a number of

players Ally McCoist is keen on. The Rangers boss will also take a

look at the Estonian defender Enar Jaager on trial next week.

And a pre-contract offer has been made to the St Johnstone striker

Francisco Sandaza.The Spaniard has scored 12 goals in the first half

of the season and will face the Ibrox club tomorrow lunchtime.

Edinburgh Rugby are just over an hour away from playing what their

coach says could be the most important match of the season. A

win over Racing Metro in France would earn the Scottish pro side a

place in the last eight of the prestigious Heineken European Cup.

But it would not be the first momentous Scottish victory at the

stadium just outside Paris. One of the most celebrated moments in

Scottish sport. Eric Liddle winning gold at the Paris Olympics in 1924.

He inspired the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire and now in the

very stadium where he made his name, Edinburgh rugby players will try

and two the same. It is the scene of a great Scottish victory. Does

that give you inspiration? I just hope we will not have to run that

fast! In the air of professional sport, we have the serious but a

business to do. If we get to write and play well, we will get a good

result. If not, it will be the end of a disappointing day. Edinburgh

are joint top on points in their Heineken Cup pool. A win tonight

over the bottom club were just about seal their qualification for

the knockout stages. They will either get there as one of the

group winners are one of the best runners-up. If they are to take

inspiration from the famous Scots runner, the are heading in for

their own Chariots of Fire. And you can keep up to date with

how Edinburgh are faring in Rugby Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland

810 medium wave. The show starts at seven o'clock.

Let us see how the weather is looking ahead of the weekend, with

Christopher. It is looking chilly, but it might also be sunny. Imagine

the line really from all been down to Teesside. South of the air,

temperatures down to-two, even in the towns and cities. Down in the

south-west, temperatures could drop down to minus four. In the Northern

Ireland, the temperatures staying at for a five degrees Celsius.

There will be some mist and fog patches forming overnight, which

could be stubborn to clear tomorrow morning. But it will be a dry,

bright and fine day, once the sun actually get there. By mid-

afternoon, it will be dry and bright hopefully, but cold. 10

pages at a high of only three or four degrees Celsius. Further north,

through pressure and the islands, maybe slightly warm or. In the far

north, the best temperatures of the day. Between six and eight degrees

Celsius between the northern islands and the Shetlands. Here are

the temperatures on the hills. It will be cloudy in the north-west

Highlands, but improving throughout the weekend. Wind and Easter is

lighter than those in the West. If you are going skiing, the mild

weather has limited the snow in places. Into Saturday evening and

overnight, it will be dry and clear, with the widespread frost. Wind

increasing up the West End coast. High pressures continuing to

dominate on Sunday. Good for us, because there will be dry, find and

bright. Probably more sunshine on Sunday than opt tomorrow. It will

be called, however. From Sunday into Monday, the high pressure just

about hanging on, but as we head into Monday night, the hint of wet

weather once again coming our way. Tonight, for many, cold and frosty.

Now, just before seven o'clock, a summary of tonight's top stories...

Hostilities over an independence referendum have continued at a

meeting of the British-Irish Council. First Minister Alex

Salmond invited the Prime Minister and his deputy for formal talks in

Edinburgh, but he was told to "engage" instead with Scottish

Secretary Michael Moore. David Cameron has hinted that there

may be a rethink of controversial plans to stop child benefit for

higher rate taxpayers. But Chancellor George Osborne has

insisted that the principle of axing the benefit for the better

off is right. Network Rail is to be prosecuted

for a train crash in Cumbria, which killed a woman from Scotland. An

inquest into the death of 84-year- old Margaret Masson from Glasgow,