18/11/2013 Reporting Scotland

Tonight: The gap in the finances of an independent Scotland. A think

tank warns that spending will be cut off taxes will be raised. A tenfold

increase in hotel room prices for the Commonwealth Games. There did

not seem to be anything available, and what was available has several

zeros on the end of the normal price.

Also: The Aberdeen -based finance company that has become the largest

in Europe. He is one of the greatest rugby players from Scotland, we

speak to Gavin Hastings as he prepares to be inducted to the world

hall of fame. And we join the stars of film and television on the red

carpet. A highly respected think tank has

warned that an independent Scotland will need to cut public spending or

increase taxes. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says that an ageing

population and declining North Sea revenues will lead to severe

financial challenges. We already knew that the United Kingdom's

finances are in a bad way with the deficit to a high and debt rising

fast. The independent Scotland would inherit a share of that. Economists

say that the challenges would worsen. The amount that has to be

squeezed out of spending at nearly 2% of national income would you more

than twice that of the UK. To illustrate what that means, the

institute says there could be an 8% cut on public services spending or a

rise in taxes. That would be eight years from now, after completing

austerity measures. Jam tomorrow? What about today's evidence? An

ageing population with fewer immigrants is one reason that

Scottish finances look more challenging than Britain's. Oil

revenue would help for now but it does seem to be in long-term

decline. Something needs to be done. Something to cope with what we know

is highly likely to happen, in particular, the ageing of the

population. It is seen by some as evidence that nationalist promises

are too good to be true. You need to meet everyday costs as well as

meeting the cost of a rising population. Independence is all

about the opportunity to get out of that type of situation and create an

economic future based on greater prosperity for people in Scotland,

tackling the inherent inequality ovulated and. -- of the United

Kingdom. The Scottish government will look back more than 30 years

when setting out the case. It will make estimates on how much higher

incomes could have been if the model had been that of other small

independent nations. By the time of the recent financial crunch it would

have been 900 rounds Peterhead. -- ?900 per head.

You can see more on this on BBC Two at 11pm.

Visitors to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games can expect to pay

up to ten times the normal price of a hotel. Organisers say they expect

prices to come down but as our Commonwealth reporter has been

finding out, they could be in for a shock. Construction work continues

in Glasgow. Another new hotel. One of many. 12,000 hotel rooms will be

filled across this city for the Commonwealth Games. But how much

will it cost and how easy are they to find? This fire secured tickets

for the boxing and has already booked his flights. -- this fan. But

when he tried to book accommodation... I was in a daze.

What is available has several zeros at the end of the price.

Comparing availability with ten random hotels outside of games time,

the difference is huge. The average price is ?75 90 outside of the

games. On the day of the opening ceremony, it goes up to ?362. The

average jump is 410%. The hotels have allocations with

companies. Touring groups. Those allocations will come back into the

market. We expect that from January. But not all hoteliers are looking to

cash in. Increasing prices is against our philosophy. This city is

trusting and friendly, I think it gives a different picture.

Big prices go hand-in-hand with big events. Just how big they are in

Glasgow will only be known once the games are over.

Still to come: Attempts to attract more visitors and boost income by

helping tourists research the Scottish roots.

A place in the Scottish squad for enthusiasm and finishing, we hear

from Kris Boyd. And Gavin Hastings talks to us about the greatest

regret of his career. A decade ago the company was on the

brink of collapse. Today, Aberdeen asset management became Europe's I

kissed independent fund manager. Their takeover of the Scottish

Widows investment arm from Lloyds bank is the nickel so far in the

career of Martin Gilbert, once described as a government committee

is a sophisticated snake oil salesmen. -- is the pinnacle of the

carrier. The company grew from being three

men in an office to being the largest in Europe. It now manages

funds worth ?350 billion. I never thought we would reach 1

billion, let alone 350. It is just staggering. In those days you did

not think that so much wealth existed in the world. It has been a

fantastic journey. But in 2002 the company faced near

financial collapse. Investors lost millions. Martin Gilbert appeared

before a Commons select committee accused of being a sophisticated

snake oil salesmen. We put a low risk warning on it. How you react to

adversity is what makes you as a person. That is what made us as a

company. It made us the resilient company we are today. The deal with

Lloyds banking group means it can now compete with the largest

American fund managers. But any takeover will lead to concerns over

job cuts in Edinburgh, were both companies have headquarters. Martin

Gilbert however says the deal is good for Scotland and will bring

more business to the city. The law is to be changed on school

closures. The Scottish government says it wants to make the process

more transparent. Our education correspondent is with us. What is

changing? It follows concerns about removal school closures. The

government wants to make sure parents and communities are better

informed. -- rural school closures. The changes include clearer

financial information to set out the case. It is to guarantee confidence

amongst parents and communities regards the decision making process,

even if the decision is inevitably going to be controversial. There is

also the question of how to appeal against a decision to shut a

school. The government want to establish an independent review

body. The thinking is to try to offer reassurance. The real test

will be the next time any council proposes widespread closures. Let's

wait and see. Some of the country's most historic

courts have begun a move to cut costs. The Sheriff Court in Rothesay

had one of its last sittings today. There are claims that the closure

could compromise security. The ferry to the mainland takes 45 minutes.

People have a strong sense of community and self-sufficiency. They

mounted a campaign against proposals to close the Sheriff Court and

transfer cases to Greenock, a ferry and train ride away. The campaign

was led by the island newspaper which said that justice will not be

seen to be done as it cannot cover cases in Greenock in the future. It

is just another example of the best interests of the local community

being disregarded in favour of financial arguments. Which are

debatable at best. Quite apart from the financial arguments there was

also the public safety implication. Both sides in a case must travel to

court on the same ferry. Bute could become a less safe place to live as

a result. The court is not busy, healing on

average two criminal cases per week. Closing it will save around ?6,000

every year. But local solicitors say that will be far outweighed by

increased costs to police in having to go across to Greenock for trials

in the future, and witness expenses from the legal aid budget. Lawyers

reject Court service claims that video technology could help some

witnesses avoiding having to travel to Greenock. That, interim, will

lead to less people reporting crime and cooperating with the police. The

police are concerned. It will have a huge impact on a struggling police

force on the island. The flatpack furniture is put up when the local

council is not using the room. The court service insist the closure

will improve services across Scotland. It is about investing in

the proper facilities, about making sure that in future we have the

right technology to allow people to play a role in the justice system.

He has rejected a last-minute campaign to keep some court cases in

Rothesay. A priest who wrote about a culture

of homosexual bullying in the Catholic church has been suspended.

Father Matthew Despard Is now the subject of a disciplinary process.

Dozens of parishioners walked out of John Ogilvie Church in protest at

his treatment. A patient slipped off an operating table at the Western

general in May, whilst unconscious. In another incident a surgical swab

was left inside a patient. More than 1000 staff will now undergo training

measures. Licensing boards in the south-west

being asked to call time on the new pub and of licence applications in

Dumfries and Stranraer. NHS Dumfries and Galloway say they are spending

about ?40 million every year dealing with drink related illness. Bus

users in Edinburgh have been using the country's first smart ticket

John Ogilvie first smart -- first smart ticket

app. It starts with the bosses. When the tram enters the service, the

same app can be used regardless of whether you are on a bus or a tramp.

A campaign to showcase the world-famous border horse festivals

has been launched. It will bring together the events from the 11

border towns. There are more stories from your

area and all the latest news and analysis on BBC Scotland's website.

So-called ancestral tourism could earn Scotland billions of pounds.

Tourist chiefs have been told that capitalising on the growing number

of foreigners researching their roots and those drawn by next

year's major events like the Ryder Cup could mean big business. A case

of who do you think you are and how much do you think he will spend?

-- you will. Scotland's cultural heritage is already a big draw for

visitors. There is increasing in charge -- interest. This museum in

Sutherland is already capitalising on the interest, only this year at

attracting 2000 visitors to a series of events. Over the last ten years,

we have seen a significant increase, not just in the numbers of

people involved in ancestral research, but also the age. It has

become of its trendier. Something like 50 million people worldwide can

claim Scottish ancestry and that is a big market. Go to the places, it

makes it much more exciting. A lot of people said they get a sense of

the family spirit in that particular area. Museum exhibitions are all

well and good, but one thing that strikes people who come here soon --

seeking their roots is the desire to establish a personal connection with

the place they have chosen to visit. It could be -- it could be a

Matheson from Canada. Within ten minutes, we could be on the phone to

them and you will be sitting in our cafe having a cup of the with new

relatives you did not know about. Next year, visitors will be flooding

into Scotland for events like the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth

Games. Attracting some of them to research their roots could spread

the economic benefit further afield. Let's have a look at the sport.

Good evening. Scotland manager Gordon Strachan says he has turned

to Kris Boyd for his enthusiasm and finishing. Three years after he last

played for his country, the Germanic striker admits it is a great

surprise to be back in the national squad. -- kill my neck.

He was back amongst the goals for Scotland, although it was only a

training session. As a footballer, there is nothing prouder. It is a

great honour. I look forward to it. That wasn't always the case. He

didn't want to play for his country under George Burley, he last played

three years ago. He feels he has learned a lot since then. I have a

better appreciation of the game. It is not just about you. It is about

the 14. -- 14. There's no doubting his prowess. With Rangers, he was

the all-time top scorer with 164 goals and then 18 games for

Scotland, he scored seven times. His return to his club team followed

unsuccessful spells in Turkey and America. I think he brings

enthusiasm. It is great. And he is finishing. We all know he has

limitations, we all know what he likes. He wouldn't be starting

tomorrow, he knows that. But he could get on. Chances of that have

improved, with... Six Australian players including

Nick Cummings had been suspended for Saturday's test against Scotland.

They had been out drinking the night before their match against Ireland.

The Scots are still licking their wounds after a punishing defeat to

South Africa. The players know where improvements need to be made before

meeting in Australia. It would be a massive game. Gilbert have a

dominant display. It will be tough, there's no question about that. The

solution for us is simple, fix the set piece and breakdown and we are

capable of beating them. The 30-year-old has reached the third

round up at Wimbledon and the Australian open and enjoyed 12 years

of Team GB in the Fed cup. It has not been easy. It has taken time to

finally decide to retire, but I think when you have on your body

around the court the way I have for 16 years, I think my body is saying

that it is time to pack it in. Just one Scottish premiership game at the

weekend source and Mirren beat Ross County by 2-1.

It was a controversial game. You can see more of the goals and

action from that game plus more sport stories and all the latest

news on BBC sport Scotland's website.

What happened there? Here we are. Gavin Hastings has achieved so much

in world rugby. There is one standout moment that he says is his

biggest regret. He is being inducted into the World Hall of Fame, 61 caps

for Scotland. He went on to captain both his country and the British and

Irish Lions in a glittering career. He has been reliving the highs and

lows with our reporter. It is a walking made countless

times, both as a player and a leader. Murrayfield, a home from

home. Running out here with the pipes and

drums and the crowd is an amazing experience. After coming through age

grade and university teams, he made the jersey his own. His greatest

moment came in 1990 when the grand slam decider against England. No

secrets or hidden gems. It was a conviction that we were going to

win. 18 months later, the glory turned to

personal despair in the World Cup semifinal. If I could change one

thing, it would be that kick. Whether we would go on to win that

game, we will never know. Could you have won the World Cup? Probably.

Nearly 20 years after his retirement, the rugby world still

fondly remembered as one of Scotland's greatest players. It is a

thing that puts a smile on your face. You can give yourself a pat on

the back and say, it is lovely. And it is lovely, it is fantastic. I

feel very honoured. Some great memories there.

We stay with awards. It may have rained a bit on the red carpet, but

some of the biggest names in film and television attended last night

the Scottish BAFTAs. Many were among the stars.

From Brian Cox to Kelly MacDonald. From the big to the small screen and

all those who work behind the scenes. This is a celebration of the

whole industry. It was a strong year for

documentaries. This one about motor neuron disease won best director.

Another 13 behind BBC's Scotland's documentary Sins Of Our Fathers.

This film based on the memoirs of a former Glasgow gangster won the

audience vote. I don't make films for critics. I

make them for people who go and enjoy cinema. This is much more

important. Handing out the prizes, the star of one of the most talked

about stars in Scotland. He stars in outlander. There are 20 million

people that have bought the books. There are a lot of followers around

the world. We will see how it goes, it is a massive world and Scotland

gets to present it. From one of Scotland's best known actors to

another. Richard Wilson has appeared on stage and screen for the best

part of 50 years, most famously as Victor Meldrew. Last night, he did

not believe it. It is very special. It is so nice to have this towards

the end of one's career. But my career, I am still working, I'm

still going strong. I hope it does not mean the end, as it were.

As winter weather descends that have a look at the weather.

Technically it is still autumn, but it will feel like winter. A lot of

talk about snowfall. Most of us won't see the white stuff, it is ice

that we are concerned about. There is a yellow warning in place. We

still have these showers pushing in which will be wintry. Some sleet and

snow on high ground, occasionally to low levels. It will be clear and

cold for most of the country. A widespread frost. Temperatures sub

zero for most. Maybe holding up around the coast. A cold start

tomorrow. It will be icy and frosty. Then we tend to lose the showers

across the west coast and the North East. There is a lot of sunshine in

the forecast. Don't let that fool you, it will be a cold day. By mid

afternoon, maybe just two or three Celsius at best. Add on a wind,

it'll feel colder. Then we will see cloud working in from the Highlands.

The sunshine will hopefully last the further east you are and the cloud

rolling into wards Orkney and Shetland and Inverness as we had

through the afternoon. As the rain comes in, it will meet the cold air

and initially turned to snow over high ground, then turned back to

rain. The wind is the next big feature. We have another warning in

force, a yellow warning, it is early as it is for Wednesday, but we will

see some storm force gusts across the northern and western isles. It

is all thanks this pressure system. Notice the tightly packed isobars.

The rain in the South Clays on Wednesday. A number of showers

around. The winds will be very strong on the west coast.

Temperatures will be seven, but will feel colder. Thursday is better,

were less windy for a start. My goodness, tomorrow is going to be

very cold. That is the forecast. A reminder of tonight's main news.

Two leading Internet companies are to introduce changes to make it

harder for people to access images of child sex abuse.

Google and Microsoft says that it means that more than 100,000 search

terms will not direct people to illegal content.

A highly respected think tank has warned that an independent Scotland

would need to cut public spending or increase taxes to ensure that its

economy was on a sustainable footing.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said an ageing population and

declining revenues will lead to severe financial challenges. A woman

has pleaded guilty to murdering three men and dumping their bodies

in a stitch. Joanna Dennehy from Peter Brock also

admitted the attempted murder of two other men. Victims were found in

March and April and all three had been stabbed. That is Reporting

Scotland. From everyone around the country and

on our Glasgow team, enjoy your evening.