08/02/2012 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news, more

money for housing in the Scottish Government's �28 billion annual

budget. John Swinney says his blueprint will revive the economy.

Opponents say it'll make worse. We will hear from both sides. The man

at the centre of this worldwide internet hit when he was filmed

throwing a student off a train will not be charged with assault. Also

in the programme this evening... That is the most heartbreaking

thing about this illness. How one son's experience of caring for his

mother led to a nation-wide campaign to highlight awareness of

dementia. What is this doing part in the middle of the water? --

MSPs have tonight backed plans to spend �28 billion on Scottish

public services in the year ahead. The Finance Secretary John Swinney

announced extra money for colleges, transport and housing. But the vote

followed sharp exchanges at Holyrood over whether the package

will revive the economy, or make it worse. Our political editor Brian

Taylor assesses the impact on the Michael has got a borders

construction company. It is the company's 75th anniversary and like

others, faces a host of problems. lack of economic demand and

confidence and mortgage availability of. But they are

carrying on at keeping workers employed. They need a boost to the

economy. There does not seem to be much demand for this employment.

You need customers. We need customers, yes. We cannot just

build and keep them employed. spending an extra �87 billion on

social housing Evert three years. To boost the economy generally,

there is almost three and 83 million in capital spending during

the same period. That includes 72 million on roads at 28 million on

high-speed broadband. We have acted decisively in response. We have

looked at the economy, public services and the people of Scotland.

Colleges will get 20 million more than planned this year for student

support and college places. It is limiting cuts in the pipeline. It

was a cautious welcome from the Liberal Democrats. It is a step in

the right direction within the constraints of the settlement.

Labour said it was far short. budget set out to cut housing by

more than 30% and colleges by 20 % even with today's Ltd but welcoming

backtracking. It is not a Budget designed to get people back into

work in the construction industry. People have demanded more money or

cycling. They have got millions. The levy on retailers to sell

alcohol and tobacco goes ahead but it is reduced by 15 million. That

will be ploughed back into business rates. The Conservatives are habit.

It will make Scotland -- are not happy. We it will make them less

competitive. Questions and more questions. Back in the placid

beauty of the Borders, they have just got one question to ask. Will

Although they have got a big majority, they were tried to get

support today. Did any of the opposition -- opposition side. --?

Literally at the last minute, the Liberal Democrats decided to be in

favour. They took a decision that aspects of the budget, they are not

happy with it and that it is not perfect but they decided that on

balance that it was new money for housing and for colleges and they

have got money. It is not filling the hole gab but it is more money.

The situation is regarded as an electoral game. But we are looking

at local government financial settlement and we will have more

A man who removed an alleged fare dodger from a train will not now

face prosecution. 35 year-old Alan Pollock was charged with assault

after throwing 19 year-old student Sam Main off the train at

Linlithgow station when he became involved in an argument with a

ticket collector. Video of the incident attracted more than two

It was a video that went by well and divided public opinion. Tens of

thousands watched this footage online when the big man, Alan

Pollock removed an apparent the Fed dodger, Sam Main back in December.

-- fare Dodger. At the time it caused controversy and frustration

for the student that was ejected. bet he did not understand all I was

not explaining the story well enough. But it was a

misunderstanding and I was chucked off the train. Alan Pollock was

charged after Sam Main reported him. charged after Sam Main reported him.

But today, the authorities have said that after careful

At the time, it divided the nation with opinion split on whether or

not the man was right to chuck the student off the train. It appears

that this ruling has also divided the public. Just leave it as it is.

Just move on, I say it. It could be the wrong thing because the man

that took the law into his own hands, he could have acted

illegally and that is wrong in itself. The guy has proved he had

his ticket. Tonight, the father of Alan Pollock said that he is

relieved that his son will not be facing potential prosecution. It

could have been used as evidence in a trial but this footage will

remain just as an internet it. -- If you're caught carrying a knife

in Scotland you're more likely to end up in jail than in any other

part of the UK. That's according to the latest figures from the

Scottish government. Today they extended a scheme which has helped

reduce knife-carrying by up to a third in some parts of the country.

It costs leads and blights community. My crime has been a

focus for successive government. -- knife crime. Figures released show

that of people convicted of offences, just under 31 % are

jailed in Scotland. In England and Wales, just 20 %. In Northern

Ireland, 22 %. Sentences are tougher here as well. Average jail

terms are 288 days in Scotland, compared to 165 South of the border.

Ministers said it was part of a tough policy. We have got more

police officers carrying out stop and searches. Less people are

carrying weapons and more are being caught and the people getting

caught are going to prison for longer because sentences have gone

up and the average sentence is nine months. It is left to doctors to

pick up BPB's, sometimes literally. -- pieces. Alcohol counselling has

been reducing interpersonal violence and they have accepted

that court sanctions are reported. The evidence is that it is a

significant part in preventing knife crime but it is perhaps not

quite as strong as we thought. It is one of these things that can be

utilised but maybe not the best important. Ministers have announced

that the anti- night campaign is being extended with more funding to

educate young people. -- knife Still to come on your national news

before seven... The sound of Barra. But for how much longer? Islanders

protest at Government plans to turn their fishing grounds into a

conservation area. In sport, Scotland's rugby coach says his

squad remains united despite a difficult start to the Six Nations

campaign. We'll hear from Andy Robinson. And Celtic haven't lost

to a Scottish team since October. They're playing them again tonight.

We'll look ahead to Celtic vs Hearts with the Scotland manager

Craig Levein. He's a full time carer for his mother who has

dementia and at the same time he campaigns to raise awareness of the

condition. Last yea,r Tommy Whitelaw travelled around Scotland

gathering the experiences of other carers and this evening he's taking

them to the health minister at Holyrood. He's produced a film to

This is Tommy Whitelaw and his mother in June last year. Shortly

afterwards, Tommy decided more should be done for people with

dementia like his mother. He embarked on a one-man campaign.

Celtic Park. Nowadays, this stadium has the capacity for more than

60,000 people. If we were to host an event and invite every single

person in Scotland that has Alzheimer's, we would still have AQ

out of the door and we would need another stadium. -- queues of

people. What about the carers and Ibrox stadium holds 51,000 people.

Not enough to have won a care each. -- a carer each. He has gathered

letters and stories from other areas. -- stories. I look after my

husband and I have done everything for him and now he is gone I will

never get him back. I have lost the never get him back. I have lost the

future but I was a people. -- And half the population has a

friend or relative affected by dementia. That figure is set to

rise. This evening, Tommy is asking the Scottish government what is

A five-year-old boy who died after apparently choking on a grape at an

after school club has been named. The parents of Louis Emaho have

described him as bright, happy and bubbly child who always had a smile

on his face. An investigation into how he died at a sports centre in

the village of Newtonhill yesterday afternoon is underway.

Earlier we heard about the Scottish government's spending plans and

tomorrow, councils will be voting on their budgets for the coming

year. Like everyone in the public sector, they've been looking at

ways of saving money and some radical options have been expolored.

Our local government correspondent is at the Glasgow City Chambers,

the home of the Scotland's biggest council.

This is the ornate debating chamber of Glasgow City Council. The

councillors will be filling these benches tomorrow to discuss their

budget for the year ahead and some of the meetings will be taking

place in many parts of the country. Although the past few years, will

be have heard lots about cuts to jobs and services, but what about

really radical options for the whole way local Government actually

works? There are all kinds of old proposals. 32 separate councils

used to mean a 32 social work departments. 32 education

departments. Even 32 IT departments. Critics always said this was

wasteful, but can this change without scrapping whole consuls.

Two small consuls say yes. Sterling and tough one other are building a

radical new model for Education. They now show that between them.

The schools and sterling remains sterling schools, but for the team

at the centre, it is meant that there is only one senior management

team. A but what may get top marks here may not be right for everyone.

Two years ago we reported this. Council services could be merged,

posing a threat to thousands of jobs under radical new proposals to

reform local Government. But this scheme has made limited progress.

The first sod proposal was to share offer services like information

technology. Even this has been scaled back. Two councils have even

pulled out completely. Glasgow does not deliver services in the same

way that Renfree does. There are local differences that have to be

taken into consideration. But here is a really radical option. Does a

consul service actually need to be provided by the council itself, or

Canwick contract be given to a private business instead? In

Edinburgh, two years of work led to a highly controversial scheme to do

this with rubbish collection. Just months before the council elections,

the scheme was thrown out. Inevitably, there will be issues

upon which we have very strong, intense debates. At the end of the

day, we have to agree to differ. A look now at what else has been

happening across the country this Wednesday... The Supreme Court

ruling in favour of offshore workers means that people who work

overseas can bring their grievances to UK employment tribunals.

Individuals have find themselves in a situation where they did not work

in Britain and did not know for sure what to do. My they will have

a far better idea. Hopes are raised that a buyer can be found for

troubled Aberdeen Show shot drink firms shines. With and 30

expressions of interest has been made.

I investigation is under way into a fire at Strathclyde University's

campus. It houses part of the Engineering Faculty and contains

chemicals. It at the planning system for renewable energy in

Scottish waters will be streamlined to make the development of offshore

power easier. For the fifth year in succession,

the Sea Kings of the HMS Gannett and Prestwick whether busier

search-and-rescue helicopters in the UK. I am incredibly proud of

our employees, at a who have Cup does get airborne to rescue 200

patients. Chris Paterson could have a street in his home town of

Galashiels named after him. They want to create a termagant --

commentary Peter Scott and's most- capped player. Being left-handed

like President Barack Obama could make you better decision-maker than

a right-handed person. Researchers say it might be down to giving in a

world for many objects and activities are designed for right-

handed people. And there is more on those stories

on the BBC website. It's a controversy familiar to

millions of viewers of the hit BBC series Island Parish. The fishermen

of Barra in the Western Isles fear their economy will be devastated if

Scottish government plans to designate some of their waters a

special area of conservation go ahead. Today they were at Holyrood

hoping to persuade ministers to abandon their plans.

This is a place off coral and creels. And the sea around Barra

has sustained generations of locals, harvesting what lies beneath the

water. It is part of Hebridean life which is currently attracting

millions of years on the BBC's Island Parish. The series follows

the local Catholic clergy and their flocks. A flock which is worried.

It has an effect on every walk of life. People will leave and move on.

The parish will crumble. Scottish Government are considering

designating these waters a Special Area of Conservation. They say

there are important Sandbanks, Greece and seals which need

protection. But the locals sought protection from the

conservationists. A delegation travelled to Holyrood to demand

they are left alone. People are far better placed to manage their own

affairs. It will have a serious effect on the economy of the island.

Local fishermen fear they will be told when and where to fish. They

want ministers to abandon the plans. But will they? This Minister loves

and Nos Barra and will be proceeding forward with the

interests of the people of Barra at heart. But he has not ruled out

these waters being protected. Government conservationists say

fishing could still continue as long as it was banished. Islanders

insist that is what they already do without the help of officials.

Police have been trying to trace the owners of a car found abandoned

in the Solway Firth. No one was in the vehicle which was found in

Cardoness Bay near Gatehouse of Fleet. Willie Johnston reports.

An unwanted addition to the seascape. And this or by four got

stuck some time on Monday night and for two days has appeared and

disappeared with the changing tides. The tide has been receding for four

cars and the car has come back into view. It is around half a mile from

the nearest land. Probably for the purpose of legal cockle fishing,

that is why it came here. We know that this area has been used by

local fishermen and the fishing bills are actually closed here. It

is a very dangerous area. The tide can change very quickly. The

vehicle can become stranded easily. Local residents are not surprised

that has happened. They observe a lot of the legal cockling. Usually

from that direction, up to half a dozen or 10 of them. Usually on

quad bikes. They're out there in all kinds of conditions. Quite

frightening, really. The chance for the emergency services to get a

close-up inspection using fire brigade water specialists. The task

here is to establish their vehicle's identity and make sure

that no one is left in it. After that, the car will simply be left

to rot. Let's get the sport from David.

The Scotland rugby coach Andy Robinson says he doesn't understand

why his team has been losing matches. He insists the squad

remains united despite a difficult start to the Six Nations, including

defeat by England and a player quitting one match in. He was

speaking after making two changes to his starting line-up for the

match against Wales this weekend. It doesn't look much, does it? It

is about three or four inches wide and it runs across the links as a

rugby pitch. But the try line and not crossing it is costing Scotland

Dili. The England match last weekend was the fourth game in a

row that Scotland field to score a try. This man came closest coming

from the bench. Now he gets his chance from the start. Are you the

man to get Scotland over that line? We will soon find out! I hope so! I

have been doing well for Edinburgh. There are good players here. We can

hopefully cross the line. changes have been made for the

match against Wales. Ewen Murray does not play on Sundays. And after

his retirement yesterday, at this man comes in. The amount of man-of-

the-match performance is that he has had, his enthusiasm, and the

way he has played, he is great. the pressure on the team? I am here

to win games. I do not understand are losing. I have a belief in the

team. When you get into the positions we got it to be gained,

be have to win games. The two years ago in Cardiff, Scott and threw

away a ten-point lead in the last 10 minutes. Not the ideal place to

replace. But he seems ready. Celtic can increase their lead over

Rangers at the top of the Premier League to four points if they beat

Hearts at Tynecastle tonight. But Hearts hold the distinction of

being the last Scottish team to beat the SPL leaders. Tat was back

at the start of October. Our senior Football reporter is at Tynecastle

with a special guest. It is absolutely freezing here. It behind

me here in just over 60 minutes, the atmosphere will be red hot. I

am joined by a very special guest, at the Scotland manager. This

picture has something about it, hasn't it? I am looking forward to

it. It is an important game. Probably more so for Celtic and

Hearts. It is their chance to keep their lead at the top of the table.

I do not think they will be relishing coming here. Given the

fact that Hearts were the last side to take points off them in the

league, they could go in with some confidence. Yes. I agree with that.

There are a couple of important players missing, though. Ian Black

has been a very important player for Hearts. Neil Lennon will be

glad to see those names missing. this becoming a bit of a problem?

You would need to ask the people at the club. I do not profess to know

the ins and outs. Predictions? the form itself to Corinne and the

missing players from heart, let's see! Be her off for a warm drink!

Done for London have drawn level points with heads. They still trail

on goal difference. They have not won a league match at home this

season. They drew against Kilmarnock last night, with James

Fowler getting a goal halfway through the first half. But Andy

Kirk event the scored just one minute from time. Dibble be able to

A cloudy day across the country with three in pushing him from the

West. When it reaches the colder air in the East, there is a chance

that it will turn to freezing rain. That means that called rain will

hit against already freezing services, turning instantly to ice.

The rain will move across the country overnight. We will see some

fairly heavy bursts around Argyll. The Gambians and Aberdeen sure as

well. After an early dip in temperatures this evening, it will

turn milder over night. It will stay chilly in the south-east,

where we will continue to see a risk advice tomorrow morning.

Elsewhere, it will be cloudy with further outbreaks. By the time we

get to the mid-afternoon, we will see a clearance from the North. In

southern and central part, it will stay fairly cloudy with outbreaks

of rain. Trier and brighter conditions pushing him from the

North. Temperatures ranging between six and eight Celsius. Tomorrow

evening, it stays cloudy across the country and the brain will linger

in the south. Tomorrow night will be slightly milder, so there will

be less risk of ice or frost. Friday, it will be fairly cloudy.

There will be further outbreaks of rain. Temperatures hovering around

seven cells here is the pressure a chart. These fronts are still

pushing and on Thursday and Friday, but there is this area of high

pressure building in the Atlantic. As we head towards the weekend, it

will be drier but quite cloudy. You can head to our website to find out

Let's recap tonight's main stories...

SNP and Lib-Dem MSPs have approved the Scottish Government's �30

billion budget in a Holyrood vote, but Labour and the Tories voted