05/02/2014 Reporting Scotland

rise. That is all from the BBC

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland, the startling cost to you, the taxpayer,

of NHS fraud. Every year, around ?800 million is lost through

deceptions like forging prescriptions to charging for

un-needed treatment. I'm ashamed, as a dentist, that any dentist could

behave in this manner. We're asking what's being done to stop this

public money leaving the NHS. Also on the programme... Scotland's two

biggest parties jump into bed to counter the spare-room subsidy, but

it's still not clear how the money will get to those affected. How this

internet search engine for travellers has doubled its turnover

in one year. Ripe for redevelopment, or best left alone? A special report

into Scotland's green belt debate. And just two weeks before the start

of the Commonwealth Games the world's top athletes compete in

Glasgow, but will that meeting have a better line up?

Good evening. Fraud in the NHS is costing the taxpayer ?800 million a

year. It's being carried out not by organised criminals but by doctors,

nurses, dentists and patients. And it's a growing problem. A BBC

Scotland investigation has found in the past five years fraud has risen

by 42%. The sum lost could pay for 37,000 nurses. Fiona Walker has this

exclusive report. Fraudsters are ripping off the NHS, using every

imaginable form of deception. We found everything from theft of

hospital equipment to forging prescriptions. And, as in this

case, over cleaning by dentists. This person 's teeth... Were being

damaged. By the dentist carrying out what wasn't necessary. Then you have

an onward spiral of doing more and more treatment to the deterioration

of the patient. And we are told each time he did this it made him more

money. This is the dentist he's talking about, Stuart Krieg. Not

only was he struck off, but he was convicted for fraud against the NHS

in court last year. For claiming the cost of gold crowns when he actually

fitted cheaper ones. I'm ashamed, as a dentist, that any dentist could

behave in this manner. The fraud was officially recorded at just over

?2000 by the court and the health board. But the NHS actually believe

he conned them out of ?750,000. They are now pursuing the money. So what

is recorded as fraud isn't the whole picture. A leading expert says his

calculations show us the true scale of this kind of crime. We currently

have 15 years of data covering 14 different types of health care

expenditure. We are finding just under 7% on average of that

expenditure is lost to fraud. Of the whole of the NHS budget in Scotland?

That's what I will expect to see. By tobacco that ?800 million a year.

Enough to paper 37,000 new nurses or six new hospitals. The consequence

of stealing from the NHS is poor care for all of us when we are sick,

just when we needed most. So behind the scenes it is the job of these

investigators not only to catch fraudsters but to put them off

before they do it. We are focussing on deterrent, so people don't commit

fraud in the first place. That's a more cost-effective way and it

protects the health service. The NHS says Stuart Krieg hasn't paid that

the penny of the three quarters of ?1 million they say he owes them. We

discover he has moved property out of his name and he hasn't responded

to our letters. And you can see Scotland's NHS Thieves tonight at

10.35pm on BBC One Scotland. The SNP and Labour have tonight

struck a deal to provide funds which should counter the full impact of

the so-called bedroom tax in Scotland. After days of

negotiations, the two parties agreed a ?15 million package. But it's

still not clear exactly how the money will be allocated. Our

political editor, Brian Taylor, joins us from Holyrood. Brian, first

things first, MSPs have now backed the Scottish budget for the year

ahead? That's a good point. There's been controversy about the bedroom

tax, a package of some 15 million in total with ten #12 million still to

be allocated. But there's more than 30,000 million, ?30 billion. That is

money for the health service, education, transport and all the

rest. John Swinney is allocating some ?8 billion to capital

investment over two years, but says he's doing it within tight

constraints from Westminster. There are some goodies in there.

Childcare, they've got the Liberal Democrats on board tonight. Goodies

on free school meals, but the controversy remains open mitigating

the impact of the so called bedroom tax. On the spare room subsidy, they

haven't worked out yet how they are going to fund its impact and who is

going to be eligible. It's a good point. Benefits are reserved to

Westminster. The Department for Work and Pensions have announced their

some discretionary housing payments to mitigate the impact for tenants

who lose benefits as a consequence of having a spare room. The Scottish

government has topped that up initially by 20 million. Now they

say it's 22 million. They want to clear the whole impact of this

potential tax in Scotland. They say it needs another 12 million of

money, with the money already allocated. They say they need that

go-ahead from the UK Department for Work and Pensions. They say, no you

don't, you can find other ways of doing it. Maybe so, says John

Swinney, but we have to look at that in great detail. He said he would

announce to the chamber tonight, if he didn't get the go-ahead from the

UK Government, he will find ways of using that money to counteract

evictions of tenants who land in trouble solely, and this is the key

point, as a result of the bedroom tax. One way or another, John

Swinney is determined to mitigate the impact of that UK Government

policy. The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has predicted that an

independent Scotland would be forced to adopt its own currency. In

evidence to the Commons Business, Innovation and Skills committee, Mr

Cable said that, under independence, sharing the pound with the UK would

be "extremely difficult" and that it would be in the interests of both

sides to have their own currency. The Scottish Government said it

would be "absurd" if a currency union was not agreed. You're

watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's

programme... Half-grass, half-fake, but a full ?1 million. Why Scottish

rugby is tearing up its turf. In sport, some of the world's best

athletes are coming to Glasgow in the summer, but not all of them for

the Commonwealth Games. Details later. And we talk to the Livingston

skater who's one of Britain's best medal hopes at the winter Olympics

in Russia. Scotland is on its way to developing

its own global technology brand. It may not yet be a Google or Facebook,

but Skyscanner, a search engine for travellers, is growing rapidly and

today it published its results for the last year. It's now at the heart

of a cluster of new technology firms growing up in Edinburgh. Our

business editor, Douglas Fraser, reports. Taking off for a global

market. If you are booking a flight, hotel or car hire, this Edinburgh

company is becoming a big player as an online search engine. Skyscanner

is a new type of workplace, a magnet for young people with technology and

language skills where the competition isn't all about market

share. The company results from last year showed revenue nearly doubled

to ?66 million. It's getting 25 million people using its website or

app each month. It already employs 400 people and plans to recruit 200

more this year at offices around the world, with online traffic in Asia

and the America's growing fastest. I always loved the idea of building

the billion dollar internet company from Scotland. I think we've

achieved that. We can do much better over the coming years. We are in a

great position. That is just over ten years since Skyscanner started

out, cutting a lonely figure in Edinburgh. The dot-com bust had

wiped out quite a few internet economy companies. But now I see it

as a very strong advantage. We've got some really wonderful

universities with great computing science departments. Skyscanner is a

flight carrier for new Scottish technology firms. It is particularly

important in this part of the Scottish capital, where Edinburgh

University is spinning out ideas, and it also has the graduates

necessary for these recruiters. There are now around 100 technology

companies clustered around this hope, with Skyscanner setting an

example. The way they've approached staff development, the aggression

with which they've approached the business is incredibly healthy and

gives an excellent role model for people stopping businesses, and also

to bring people into this area will stop Near the university, this is

one of the integrators for baby companies, but they found out big

investment by Skyscanner by an American technology fund last year

brought a lot more attention to the capital. It has shown such a light

on what is happening here that investors want to get in early to

grow the next generation of great companies. And if this cluster of

companies continues to grow in the capital, it is quality of life as

well as work which are seen as vital to attracting more talent. As the

economic recovery continues, more developers are expected to submit

plans for houses on fields, or empty land around the outskirts of towns

and cities. But so-called green belt developments are often highly

controversial. Here's our local government correspondent Jamie

McIvor. The green outskirts of Edinburgh, but should this land be

built on? The company that owns the land has big plans. 3500 homes, a

school and more. Opinion is divided. I feel that this particular proposal

is inappropriate when it is on the green belt in prime quality land.

I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing. I'm not in favour of this

development. But the developers believe the new homes are badly

needed. There's a lot of housing need in Edinburgh. People need to

understand that need. We need them to understand how we can bring the

developer and forward without impacting too much on their

communities. A decision on this scheme is still a long way off, but

for councils across Scotland there is always a difficult balancing act.

We have to balance it out between EPP wrap's desire to grow and the

feeling of local residents, to try and preserve what they see as a

green space. It's a similar element in other places. Developers have

hoped building a new community near new Lanark for years, but its land

where the council normally isn't keen on development. Meanwhile, near

Stonehaven, a plan for up to 8000 new homes is proving less divisive.

Yet even here there are concerns about the strain this could place on

the local health service. So what are the rules? Basically, every

council has a plan for what they would or wouldn't want built in

particular areas. Some land is protected. That means it's much

harder to get planning permission to build there, but not impossible.

Back in Edinburgh, the formal planning application for this site

may be made later this year. It's a local debate echoed in many

communities. A man has appeared in court accused of raping a

24-year-old woman in Aberdeen. Daniel Walsh is also charged with

abduction and assault following the incident near the city's beach on

Monday evening. The 22-year-old made no plea and was remanded in custody

after appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Civilian workers at the

Faslane nuclear naval base on the Clyde are to go on strike over a pay

dispute. The Unite Union said staff at Babcock Marine will take

industrial action after rejecting a below-inflation offer. The dispute

involves a range of employees, including submarine maintenance

teams, cleaners, and radiation level monitors. Now let's have a look at

other stories from across Scotland. A doctor has been struck off for

failing to provide good clinical care to a patient who died of a drug

overdose. The doctor was working at Castle Craig Hospital's drug and

alcohol dependence clinic in 2005 when 20-year-old Kieron Mickel was

found dead. The medical tribunal found the treatment provided by the

doctor felt he was the book # below expected standards. Reports are

being prepared which could lead to criminal cases being brought

following the outbreak of legionella, which killed four people

in Edinburgh in 2012. Details are being sent to the Crown office,

which has a new specialist branch dealing with health and save the

issues. Experts in forensics and human anatomy have created a new

artist 's impression of a man whose body was found in the sea on sky

last September. He was seen walking near the bridge the day before his

body was found. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A

newsagent in Aberdeen has become the first in Scotland to be banned from

selling tobacco. The city council applied for the banning order

against Tony's newsagents after the owner was caught selling cigarettes

to underage customers. These are extreme circumstances. The vast

majority of traders comply with the law. They rarely fail a second time,

they learn the lessons of the first failure. This is an extreme example.

The culling of mink in the Western Isles, which began 13 years ago, is

almost complete. Research by Scottish natural Heritage and

Aberdeen University predicts the mink, which originally escaped from

their farms, will be extinct in three years. The Hebridean Project

was established to eradicate the non-native mink, which prey on

ground nesting birds. The Royal Society of Edinburgh has appointed

its first female president. Dame Jocelyn Bell Brunel is an

astrophysicist credited with one of the most significant scientific

achievements of the 20th century. Scotland's national rugby stadium is

to get a ?1million make over with the installation of a hybrid pitch.

It follows fears the existing surface wasn't good enough for

professional games. The new turf will be made of grass, reinforced by

synthetic fibres. It's already proved successful for Twickenham -

but will it stand up to the Scottish climate? Phil Goodlad reports. It

has played host to Scottish rugby's greatest moments. Memories that will

live for ever. But the hallowed pitch is being consigned to history.

Because of parasites that attack the turf. Despite fighting back with

weapons such as guard explained, ground staff have admitted defeat.

Time for a new strategy. It will go artificial, although not like the

Sample stand at the local garden centre. A hybrid pitch, have grass.

-- half-grass. It is a mixture of natural and synthetic fibres. The

synthetic fibres support the natural grass during times of struggle and

stress, often during the winter. Scotland played Ireland on a hybrid

pitch just last weekend. The Murrayfield pitch used to be

regarded as the best international pitch. Three Grand Slam tapping on

that surface. But it is probably the right time for it to go. -- three

Grand Slams have been won. Parasites is an issue, the benefit of

synthetics is that, whilst you might lose a high percentage of grass

cover, visually and performance wise, the pitch will still hold up.

As for the more difficult task, getting things right on the pitch.

A make-over for Murrayfield. But not to be outdone, Hampden's in the

headlines too. Yes. The Glasgow 2014 Games won't be

the only show in town this summer. It won't even be the only athletics

event. There could be more big names at a prestigious Diamond League

meeting to be held at Hampden two weeks before. But is there a danger

that could steal the thunder of the Commonwealth Games? Here's our Games

reporter Jane Lewis. The diggers have moved in. Sometime next month

the stadium will look more like this, all set for the Commonwealth

Games. Just before, a world elite will compete on the new track. Yes,

you seem Usain Bolt may run. But there will be other big names.

American Olympic medallist, Justin Gatlin. European champion,

Christophe LaMaitre of France. They will be at the Diamond league

meeting, but not the Commonwealth Games. There are no medals to be won

at the Diamond league. The Commonwealth Games in the Olympics

mattered most to athletes. It will not take the shine from the

Commonwealth Games. Hampden has stepped in as a replacement venue

because of the Olympic Stadium in London is being refurbished. Glasgow

2014 welcome the announcement, saying:

the meeting will take place on July 11-12.

A few days away, The Winter Olympics gets under way this week in Sochi

and 18 Scottish athletes have been picked in the 56-strong Great

Britain team. One of the high hopes for a medal is Elise Christie in the

short track speed skating. But could she be in line to win even more?

David McDaid has this report form Russia. This is the skating palace,

and this is Elise Christie from Livingston. She won bronze at the

world champions last year and is a genuine medal hope that these 11 X.

This is her second games. Vancouver did not go well. She now feels

better equipped. I understand the Olympics are a lot more now. I am

preparing to try and go out and perform. Last time I was just going

out, thinking, I just happy to be here. Her most successful distance

is at 1000 metres. She is hopeful of performing well also in the 501,500.

-- the 500 and 1500. I hope to do my best and all of them. I am not

focusing on just one. I think she can get a medal in every distance.

She has the capability. But so do others. Really, can she handled the

pressure? She is not red-hot favourite, but one of them. I was

reading her biography. She said, winning is psychological. Certainly,

psychology will play a big part for her. So, she could leave Russia is

Britain's most successful ever winter and nine. -- winter Olympian.

Now for a look at the rest of the day's sport. One wee bit of signing

news: St Mirren have signed a former Manchester United player. It's the

Cameroon International Eric Djemba Djemba. The 32-year-old is out of

contact after leaving Partizan Belgrade in Serbia. He's signed till

the end of the season. Police are investigating allegations that Neil

Lennon was verbally abused and had a coin thrown at him as he watched the

game between Aberdeen and St Johnstone will stop the league have

apologised to the Celtic manager. We are reviewing CCTV footage and have

apologised to Neil Lennon acid was a game under our auspices. -- as it

was. The decision to hold a semifinal at Celtic Park has not

been warmly welcomed by Inverness supporters. I would have preferred

Ibrox as it has more atmosphere. But, hey Ho. Paul Hartley has been

appointed at Dundee. This will be another step going forward in his

career. A group hoping to take control of Kilmarnock has withdrawn

its interest. The consortium say that a deadline for their offer to

be accepted has passed. More on our website.

And now the weather. More of the same, wet and windy. But

the rain should ease as should the strong winds. That is because of

this low-pressure overhead today. You can see the band of rain wrapped

around it. It continues moving eastward tonight. By the end of the

night, largely dry. Just some showers peppering the West Coast.

Towns and cities, rural Aberdeenshire, just a touch cooler.

Through the morning, towards the afternoon, showers becoming confined

to the north-west. Mid-afternoon, largely dry. At times, one or two

showers. Temperatures similar to today. The best of the sunshine

across the East Coast. Certainly compared with the last 24 hours. One

or two showers in the north-west could be happy with the risk of

thunder. The rest of the afternoon, we hold onto the showers for a time.

Then it is all change going into Friday. Here is why. The pressure

chart showing a glancing blow to the East Coast. It means the eastern

part of the country on Friday will be cloudy with the best of the

sunshine in the West. One or two light and scattered showers.

Saturday, that low swings its way in. Wet and windy. And there could

be snow on lower levels. Keep your ion that over the next couple of

days. The rain works to the north, in behind, showers, feeling chilly,

and windy. Now, a reminder of tonight's main

news. A BBC investigation has found that fraud in the NHS is costing the

taxpayer ?800 million a year. It's being carried out not by organised

criminals but by doctors, nurses, dentists, and patients.

The UK government is providing an extra ?100 million to deal with the

aftermath of the severe storms. Tonight the main railway linking

Cornwall to the rest of the country has been cut by floods and villagers

in Somerset have been told to evacuate their homes.

And that's Reporting Scotland. Good evening. Goodbye.