17/12/2012 Reporting Scotland

Tonight on Reporting Scotland: The country's population reaches a

record high at more than five and a quarter million as more people move

here than leave. Counting the cost of the storm: The

once-in-a-lifetime event that has devastated coastal communities.

Absolute devastation. The whole factory is demolished like a bomb

has hit it. Transporting's Britain's nuclear

cargo as Dounreay begins to transport waste to Sellafield, we

hear the arguments for and against moving it by rail. Join me as we

find out how staff at the busiest sorting office in Scotland do with

the busiest day of the air. And we meet the diabetic boy whose dog

lets him know when there is a change in his blood sugar.

Scotland's population has risen to a record level, according to the

latest census. Just under 5,300,000 people now live here. The figures

also show that the population has been getting older. Our social

affairs correspondent has been looking at the numbers and what

they tell us. We have known it for some time, but today comes the

proof. Scotland as a nation is getting older. The figures just

published show there were 5,295,000 people living in Scotland last

March. It represents an increase of 5% in 10 years. 854,000 people are

15 or under. These are the people whose taxes will keep us in old age

in the future. What is worrying is that more people are 65 or over -

890,000. It is the first time older people have outnumbered the young.

That has major implications for services provided for the elderly.

Who will pay for them? Pensioners coming to this lunch club on the

South Side of Glasgow get a nourishing three-course meal and

some regular company. It is all fee, paid for by charitable donations.

It receives no local or central funding. These pensioners recognise

that funding for the elderly is under pressure. They are not many

places like this. So many people are getting older now. We did our

stuff in the past. A There are too many old people nowadays. Or of

what it -- what will we do about that? Do we need more younger

people? Yes, we do. Over-sixties receive three bus travel and free

personal care. As the number of all people increases, so does the bell.

Organisations say that the government must choose its

priorities in. They have to decide and, are they putting the money in

the right places? Education is good, but at the same time, we cannot

forget the people who had been in a World War. They need services as

well. The future is in hands of the young people displaying the new

population figures. Officials say there is optimism in the senses.

know there had been more births and deaths. That is part of the story.

There has been more migration, more people coming into the country than

leaving. We will get further figures next year which could alter

the balance of government funding to local council health services.

The Scottish government welcome the increases in Scotland's population,

which is said was an important driver of economic growth. It

highlighted a 6% rise in the number of under-fives, which suggests the

population decline of recent years is being reversed.

Thank you very much. Homes and businesses along the East

Coast are tonight counting the cost of the storm damage caused to the

weekend. In some towns, defences that stood for over 100 years

crumbled in the face of massive weights. At the height of the storm

and man died on board and Awe Oil Industry vessel off coast of

Aberdeen. -- and oil industry vessel. Now just a tangled mess of

concrete and steel - this fish factory in Peterhead was destroyed

by the storm which hit the east coast in their early hours of

Saturday morning. More than 20 staff and are without work.

Absolute devastation. The whole factory is demolished like a bomb

has hit it. Hard-working, very loyal staff have got sad news. I

have nothing for them at the moment. Next door, another fish factory

destroyed. Known in Peterhead can remember anything like it. As soon

as I came round the corner, you can see daylight through the building.

Have the building has gone. It is crazy. I have never seen anything

like this in my life. It has been described as a Perfect Storm, a

once in 50 years event according to the experts. High tides coupled

with ferocious gales. Communities down the east of Scotland where

affected. Dozens of people had to be evacuated and many will not be

able to return in time for Christmas. Scottish government

ministers had been visiting affected regions, the transport

minister was a North Berwick this afternoon. There is an offer of

help but no mention of funding to pay for the clean-up. It is

exceptional what has happened here. I understand the council will have

this wall reinstated within a week which is tremendous. I am here to

offer assistance from the Scottish government and to get a better

appreciation of the extent of the damage across the country. There

has been a human cost to the storm, whether people being injured or

forced from their homes are losing work. There is no estimate of the

financial cost so far but it will be in the millions of pounds.

The death of a man in Peterhead is being treated as suspicious. He has

been named locally as Arran Arthur. More than 30 officers are now

working on the investigation. Police were called to and get -- to

an address this morning where the body was discovered.

You are watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on the

programme. Fishing leaders warn an internal row in Europe is

threatening the industry here. Could the losing habit for our

rugby teams affect the national side in the Six Nations? Which

glamorous venue is set to host the beach volleyball? Find out in just

a few minutes time. A train carrying nuclear fuel made

its journey last night from Dounreay to Sellafield reprocessing

plant in Cumbria. Dozens more are set to do the same thing. They will

carry 44 tonnes of waste -- radioactive material from the

Caithness site. Environmentalists say transporting it is a risk to

communities. Deep inside the Dounreay plant,

operators manipulate robotic arms behind thick glass. They are

packing spent nuclear fuel roads for Transport. There is no further

use for the material here, so trains like this when she picked

for reprocessing at Sellafield. facilities at Sellafield are more

contemporary than those at Dounreay. We would have to build extra

facilities at Dounreay and this would not be in the juice of the

taxpayers' money. The operators insist it is not waste but highly

valuable nuclear fuel which can be used again. Critics say that it is

highly irresponsible to transport such dangerous cargoes around the

country. We believe it should have been safely stored above ground at

Dounreay where it could be constantly monitored. It could be

repackaged and replaced. Nuclear cargoes are transported by rail

every week, but opponents of the Shipman's argued that the material

should be classed as waste and stored where it was produced,

echoing the Scottish government policy on nuclear waste. Some

authorities disagree. It is safe to transport it. It is transported

under international requirements and legislation. We have tons worth

of protection for them so it is completely safe. A strange journeys

through the length of Britain are set to continue for the next five

years. -- these train journeys. They still have to deal with even

more spent fuel from the other main reactor at this plant.

The Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont has warned that publicly-

funded higher education is not viable without a serious reduction

of standards in quality. In a speech marking the first

anniversary of her election, she said the education system was not

delivering for the his pupils. Fishing leaders say at a European

power struggle is threatening the industry in Scotland. The European

Parliament wants a say on setting fishing quotas and this is feared

to lead to automatic cuts in what fishing boats are allowed to cut --

to catch. It is the time of the year that fishermen are afraid of,

as their fate for the following 12 months is decided. On the quayside,

catching and selling of this precious natural son -- resource

never stops, even when the decision makers cannot see eye to eye. This

skipper is just back from a fridge full eight-day trip and will me is

frustrated that stock levels are high but restrictions are

continuing to tighten. Where fishermen and we want to fish. Some

boats have only done 100 days this year. If we have more cuts, the

fleet will not be able to take it. The number of days boats are

allowed to spend at sea in an average month has been cut

dramatically. Before European Court conservation measures came in,

skippers could fish freely. Since then there had been a series of

reductions, on top of big changes to how the fish. The a pet -- the

effect has been to have them edge of time boats can spend at sea.

What has changed? Until now, civil servants from the European

Commission would make their recommendations and then government

ministers from each member state in Europe would decide whether to

accept or reject them. Since the Lisbon Treaty was signed, the

politicians have been given more of a say and this year it seems they

are choosing to exercise that right. Everyone agrees that changes are

needed but we are watching a power struggle which is nothing to do

with fishing management. It is about who has the right to do what

to whom between the Council of Ministers and the European

Parliament. Now MEPs have dragged themselves into the process, the

big fear is that no decision will be taking and automatic cuts will

instead kick in. Or if a decision is taken this week, it will be

challenged in courts. These could be the most controversial and you

fishing talks yet. -- annual fishing talks.

Was it a last-minute scramble to get your fish -- Christmas cards

are written and posted? For staff at post offices up and down the

country, it is the busiest day of the year. The handle millions of

cards and parcels. Our reporter joins us from the Springburn

sorting office in Glasgow. It looks to be in full swing out there.

Absolutely, you join me at one of the biggest sorting offices in

Scotland. You can see the scale behind me. You can see staff

sorting through parcels. They will end up at destinations all over the

UK. This is the busiest day of the air for the Royal Mail. This place

has dealt with millions of items today. People had been writing

their Christmas cards over the weekend and posting them. They have

ended up here and staff working round-the-clock to deal with the

deluge. I spend the day here to find out how they cope. -- I spent.

These are just some of the millions of Christmas cards and parcels

which are being sorted here today. If you have not been organised, do

not worry, there is still time. would ask you to oppose them now.

The deadline for second class is tomorrow. The deadline for a first

class his first day the 20th. If you want to use special delivery,

you have what will the 22nd. might have thought Christmas cards

were becoming old fashioned, but research says most of us was still

rather get back traditional card. Online shopping means there are

more packages than ever. They have taken on 16 extra seasonal staff.

For those who have worked for the Royal Mail for long, it is the best

time of years. I've worked here for seven years. It is a good time of

here, you were busy and you are kept going. It is quite funny to

try and see some of the addresses which tried to describe things, it

is round the corner and the colour of the door. I think people think

we know everywhere. Do they get there? Yes, it is surprising how

many of them get there. These challenges are more common than you

think. This one is a card to JLS. The his kisses for these people in

bands. -- the his kisses. Disappointingly no stamp either.

Will you get the card to them? will identify where it should go

and we will probably forward it on. The advice is take the time to get

the full address if you can, to make sure your favourite people get

It is not just the addresses that matter. We can see some of the

hazard for parcels. The advice would be get them wrapped in a

plastic bag before you get your brown paper and decorations on it.

The advice is for staff to try and salvage things but it takes time

and they want to avoid that if possible and get your letters where

they want to go on time. Now some other stories from across Scotland

this evening. The Oil Industry is investigating the extent of the

redundancies because of ongoing disruption caused by the grounding

of some Super Puma helicopters. An outbreak of Noroc virus affects

hospitals in the south-west. Two wards remain closed at Dumfries and

Galloway Royal Infirmary and the two community hospitals at an inn

and Castle Douglas are also closed to new admissions. Talks in a bid

to end the ferry dispute in the Northern Isles. Strike action was

suspended yesterday. Staff say they have been given enough assurances

to call a temporary halt to the industrial action. Staff to improve

this Lodge Park in Hawick have been granted �22 million from the

Heritage Lottery Fund. There will be Conservation of fountains, war

memorials and the replacement of a bandstand. Over 260 years of piping

by the Black Watch will be celebrated in an illustrated book,

the first record of 250 tunes played by the regiment. And there

are more stories from your region 24 hours per day on the BBC

Scotland website. Time for the latest sport with Kheredine

Idessane. After yet another disappointing weekend in the

Heineken Cup, Edinburgh coach Billy McGinty says this weekend's festive

Derby is a chance to get their season back on track. However, with

both Scottish clubs sitting bottom of their respective pools, a former

Scotland international has warned that the losing habit could affect

the national team's chances in the Six Nations. Steven Godden reports.

What a difference a year makes. Friday's 15-3 defeat was

Edinburgh's 4th straight loss in the Heineken Cup. 12 months ago the

players were plotting a path to the semi-final. The situation has left

coaches scratching their heads. is a very difficult gripping, I

know we have not got any points yet but just look at the groups who are

in it. It is very close. A late penalty miss at least Glasgow in a

similar position, stuck at the bottom of their pool. A former

international is worried that the losing habit could set the tone for

the Six Nations. If you start playing against quality opposition

and not beating them that will impact on how you play for Scotland.

The more Glasgow and Edinburgh lose the less likely Scotland are to win.

The other side of that is that some of the best players in the Scottish

team play abroad. And for Glasgow the annual winter double-header.

With Europe now a busted flush the battle for Scottish bragging rights

will shape what remains of their season. For the loser at distinct

lack of the festive cheer. The Rangers chief executive, Charles

Green, has accepted an apology from Montrose, following claims their

match-day programme ridiculed the Ibrox club. Before the teams met in

the Third Division on Saturday, the Montrose programme said, quote,

Rangers are a newco of the now defunct Glasgow Rangers. And are

hoping to clinch their first silverware. Following complaints,

the Angus club apologised. The former Olympic champion David

Hemery believes future gold medals could be forged in Glasgow.

Especially if it hosts the 2018 Youth Olympics. Four other cities

are also bidding to stage an event which welcomes over 3000 athletes

aged between 15 and 18. With a TV audience of over 1 billion,

organisers say it would bring investment and jobs. As well as an

interesting backdrop for the beach volleyball. On their marks for

Glasgow 20 Tina with a famous former Olympian for our support. 44

years after his so hurdles triumph in Mexico he says at Youth Olympics

in Glasgow would forge future stars. Whether a future Chris Hoy is, just

Golders magic. Glasgow is proposing future venues with the games

costing �24 million. What we best deliver? There will be a boost to

jobs created through tourism, through thousands of visitors

coming to the city. It is focused on our young people to give them a

very keen sense that they can be champions in their own life. The

Youth Olympics will bring 3,500 athletes in 28 sports. There will

be swimming here in Tollcross, athletics here in Scotland and here

in George Square the plan is to turn best in to this. Beach

volleyball in the centre of Glasgow. New heroes emerged at London 2012,

more will be created at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth and we will find

out next summer if the city will also host the Olympians of the

future. That sounds good. Thank you. Two years ago, BBC Scotland

reporter Ian Hamilton made a TV documentary about learning to work

with his new guide dog, Renton. Now, two years on, he's been finding out

how our four-legged friends are helping people cope with a range of

health conditions, from diabetes to epilepsy. This boy is aged 10 and

has diabetes, his mother constantly has to check his blood sugar levels,

if not, he could slip into a coma. This family has more than just a

metre to help them. This is his diabetic alert dog. She is able to

sense when his blood sugar changes. What did she able to do, how can

she let you know? She goes really mental and really goes bonkers and

fetches the Diabetes meter. Trust has been building slowly. She

is only just qualified. It is reassuring that she tries to

weekend in the night and if he does not Luigi will come and get me and

she will barred. It is not only diabetics who are benefiting, also

those with epilepsy. Scientists are still not able to predict when

someone is about to have a seizure but this dog charity believes that

dogs can. It could be things like pupil dilation, skin tone changed,

it could even be a certain cent that is released from the person.

We are desperate for some research to be done into best. At the

cutting edge of science they are getting intriguing but mixed

results in the use of canines to detect deadly diseases. In terms of

the money that is spent trying to diagnose cancer, training dogs is a

very tiny amount. To do a robust clinical study with six dogs would

cost in the region of �50,000. It is a very small amount of money

relatively to provide a huge amount of information. Medical

professionals might stop at trying to sniff out the evidence but every

day in the UK people are trusting their health and the health of

their family to a dog. And you can see Ian's programme, In Dogs We

Trust, tonight here on BBC 1 Scotland at 7:30. Now let's get the

weather forecast with Judith Ralston. Thank you. Good evening.

With settled conditions we could see I East. There is a yellow

warning from the Met Office for good parts of central Scotland

extending into Orkney. It is starting predominantly dry, we will

see a few showers across parts of the East. During the course of the

evening we will see the showers die away. Much of Scotland will be dry

on the whole. There will be frost across western and northern areas.

Extensive freezing fog patches. Some of the fog has not lifted. It

will remain cloudy in the east. Tomorrow will start cloudy and

misty in the West. It will start to brighten up from the West as we

head into the afternoon. For the afternoon it looks dry and bright

with some sunshine. Heading inland it is mostly dry with some sunshine.

There may be the odd patch of freezing fog lingering in the

Glasgow area. Perhaps some freezing fog lending towards the Inverness

area. The chance of a few showers. As we head through the afternoon

towards evening, we will hold on to the dry and settled conditions. You

will see a freshening suddenly developing along the west coast.

There is a big change on the way. This weather front marching towards

us for Wednesday. Stronger winds and rain will extend right across

the country during the course of Wednesday, it is set to turn windy

as well. Thank you now a reminder of tonight's main news. The first

funerals are said to take place of the victims of Friday's school

shooting in Connecticut. The President has hinted at the need

for tighter gun control. Scotland's population has risen to a record

level according to the latest census. The figures also show that

the population has been getting all there. The collapse of the

electrical retailer, Comet, has left the public purse having to

pick up the cost of redundancy payments. Homes and businesses

along the east coast are tonight counting the cost of the storm

damage that was caused over the weekend. In some towns, defensive

that have stood over recent years crumbled in the height of massive