12/02/2014 Reporting Scotland

heading our way and wet and windy again. That is all from us,

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland. A bitter battle over the pound. The

Chancellor says he won't let an independent Scotland join a currency

union with the rest of the UK. Nationalists say Westminster parties

are bullying Scotland. We'll be asking what it means for the pound

and the referendum. Also on the programme: A doctor says

a driver who killed two students would have been suspended from

driving if he'd told the DVLA about his blackouts.

Do you feel like having some guests in your house during the

Commonwealth Games? Why Glasgow 2014 need your spare room.

And the ferry man whose hitting the decks in his quest to run all 125

miles round the Isle of Skye. -- who is.

Good evening. In the most dramatic intervention in

the referendum campaign so far, the three main parties at Westminster

are ruling out an independent Scotland sharing the pound with the

rest of the UK. The Chancellor George Osborne will make his

announcement in a speech tomorrow, and the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls

and the Lib Dem's Danny Alexander will, effectively, back him up. The

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Westminster of

"bullying and intimidation". From there our correspondent Tim Reid

reports. To keep the pound or not keep the

pound? The question voters may have to ask themselves. Tomorrow, his

speech, the Chancellor will rule out a formal currency union, a central

theme of the White Paper. In a noisy debate, anger and

questions. The proposal for a currency union

without fiscal or political integration lacks any credibility.

It doesn't make -- it does make one wonder whether the Scottish Cup and

understands what the word independence means. They cannot have

it both ways. They cannot expect Scots to take on liabilities while

refusing to even negotiate. Surely as a reasonable person, she would

agree. It was the Bank of England's governors words that proposed...

I will be setting out my views tomorrow. The First Minister of

Wales set the ball rolling saying he would veto a currency union. it

affects Wales as well. It is important that we are able to

express Wales' view. To my mind, it would be tremendous uncertainty.

Those seeking a yes vote disagree and dismiss Mr Osborne's move. There

best absent has look at the opinion polls and thinks it is losing the

argument. In a few days, we have gone from loved ones to stink bombs.

It is mixed messages. It smacks of an attempt to bully and intimidate

people in Scotland and I don't think that will go down well. Back many

Scots wants to keep the pound. -- many Scots.

And it's there we stay and join our political correspondent, David

Porter. What's reaction been to this political alliance over the pound?

What we are seeing tonight is both sides in the independence argument

staking their ground in the most dramatic of fashions. What would be

the currency in an independent Scotland? Normally, the Chancellor

and his shadow do not agree, if you ask them the time of day you would

get a different answer. But on this issue about the future of Scotland

they are at one. They are saying that if, however get into Government

after the 2015 general election, they will not agree a deal with a

Government in Scotland, if there is independence, that Scotland would be

allowed to use the pound. For their part, the SNP are saying it is a

case of bullying and intimidation. They say that they believe it is

just a bluff. So if Scotland votes for

independence, and there is no agreement over a formal currency

union, where would that leave us? Well, we could have an informal

union. That means keeping the pound without the consent of the rest of

the UK. Alternatively, Scotland could also set up its own new

currency with its own name and own central bank. Or we could apply to

join the Euro. In a moment, we'll speak to our

Business Economy Editor Douglas Fraser, but first our Referendum

Correspondent Laura Bicker reports. An icy blast from the south is

battering our shores. Recent showers of affection are now replaced by

warring shots. This town which used to trade in linoleum sheltered the

man most regard as the father of modern economics. All money is a

matter of belief, said Adam Smith. But voters aren't sure what to

believe. Even sceptics of independence feared the Chancellor

may be throwing his toys out of the pram. I don't think he has the right

to say hands. It is a decision that has to be made post-referendum for

Scotland. It should be once we have made up our mind, it should be down

to everybody to make the decision, not just him to say yes or no. It is

just the benefits. It is just another scaremongering tactic. This

mother and daughter cannot agree. They will pull out all the stops.

England will be worse off without us. But we will be worse off without

them. The owner of this business believes George Osborne is at least

being clear. I think somebody needs to speak up. I don't think there's

anybody in charge who can say yes or no, but we need to hear opinion on

why it will happen, the pros and the cons. Somebody needs to take

responsibility, so good on him for letting us know where we stand.

Voters know what -- would like to know what notes and coins would fill

our tails. Adam Smith was the first ever Scot to appear on a Bank of

England banknote. The question is whether he could be

the last? And Douglas Fraser joins us now.

Douglas, I've been looking through the White Paper. It's quite clear

that an independent Scotland wouldn't use the Euro. We'd use the

pound and that the Scottish Government wants formal input into

the governance of the pound. Where does the Chancellor's intervention

leave us then? Italy is the SNP with a couple of challenges. -- it

leaves. They are also still trying to make

the case that it would be in the interests of the UK to do this deal,

just as it would be in the interests of Scotland. That economic case can

be made, but this is clearly also about politics. It is about the

interests of the rest of the UK asserting themselves against a

potential independent Scotland. That is why this is significant.

Unstoppable force meets immovable object. If there is to be no deal on

currency, if no means no as we are being told tomorrow, the SNP does

now have to come up with a plan B. Using a pound with no deal and no

controls would be very difficult. Using the euro would be unpopular at

the moment, potentially setting up a Scottish currency carries

faculties. Scots will clearly wants to know what currency they will be

using for their earnings, their borrowings, their savings and their

pensions. And also on what conditions. There is no easy answer

to that. Of course, there's more analysis

online looking at currency in an independent Scotland, and we'll have

more coverage tomorrow when the Chancellor is here in Scotland.

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

tonight's programme: We will have the latest on the wrapper as snow

shuts the a nine. In sport: Joy and despair at the Ice

Cube - news of Team GB's curlers at the Winter Olympics, and one of the

country's top football refs tells us why one law is proving so

controversial. -- latest on the weather as the A9 is shut.

A doctor says a driver who killed two students would have been

suspended from driving at the time of the accident if he'd told the

DVLA about his blackouts. A Fatal Accident Inquiry has been hearing

how William Payne had visited his GP and hospital several times about his

condition, but didn't tell the DVLA when he applied for an HGV license.

This woman and her friend were walking to Glasgow city centre when

out of nowhere a 4x4 drove into them, killing them both. Shortly

after the accident, the car's driver told police that he no recollection

of what happened. His medical records showed he had suffered from

at least four blackout in the previous three years and no cause

had been found. Today's fatal accident inquiry heard from Doctor

Gordon Duff who carried out a medical on Mr pain when he applied

for an HGV licence. He said he had asked William pain if he had ever

suffered from blackouts or fates. But he said no. The QC asked Doctor

Duff is the DVLA had known about Mr pain's backout, would he been

allowed to dry out the time when he hit the Barry and Laura. Doctor Duff

replied no. There were gasps from members of the

girls' family. Many were visibly upset when this evidence was

presented to the inquiry. The hearing continues.

Boxing promoter Barry Hughes has admitted a ?1.2 million mortgage

fraud. Hughes also admitted at Glasgow Sheriff Court to money

laundering and using some of the cash to buy a ?30,000 Rolex watch.

Sentence was deferred. We've all seen the effects of the

flooding and high winds in England. Well, the bad weather down south

means that the west coast rail mainline is to close this evening

between 7pm and 9pm between Preston and Carlisle. Virgin Trains has...

Passages are being advised to contact Virgin Trains for updates.

-- passengers. Meanwhile, on the roads there are

difficult driving conditions for many people this evening. It's

particularly treacherous in the north of Scotland following heavy

snowfall. Craig Anderson joins us now and can bring us news on the A9.

Yes. Here on the A9 nothing is going anywhere at the moment and that has

been the case for the last four hours since accident closed the road

at about 2:30pm. A lorry and a van were in a collision and two people,

as we understand it, were injured. One person had to be cut free from

the wreckage. The problem was that it was very snowy at the time. The

police have closed the road on both sides of the accidents. The problem

they are trying to avoid is long lines of stationary traffic with

heavy snow, getting stuck in the snow, and stopping the gritters and

snowploughs clearing the road after the debris is clear. Here we

understand that the recovery vehicles are at the scene and they

hope to get the road reopened at a short time from now. The road on the

A9 is closed after Spittal of Glenshee and was close at the 8082

earlier. Conditions are bad. If you have two travel, take extra care.

An improvement notice has been served on an Aberdeen private school

at the centre of complaints over the quality of care given to children

there. The Care Inspectorate has taken the action at The Hamilton

School Nursery. It sets out actions the nursery must take to safeguard

the health, safety and wellbeing of children, following what are

described as "serious concerns about medication and nutrition".

One of the most frightening things about contracting bacterial

meningitis is the speed at which it can develop. But now scientists at

Strathclyde University have developed a test to speed up the

diagnosis, which will hopefully lead to faster, targeted treatment.

Here's our science correspondent Kenneth Macdonald.

This little girl lost her hand the mac to bacterial meningitis. It can

cause brain damage or death. A major challenge for doctors is to find

what kind of bacteria is responsible. They were taken lumbar

puncture, which is painful, but if you're ticking from children or

babies, the sample you will collect is very small. And you don't want to

take another lumbar puncture. You want to get it right. At the moment,

I am getting some buffer and then I will bet DNA. First, the DNAs

amplified. Then the new test takes over. What you do is you shine a

laser beam at the molecule and then you measure the weight flank from

the laser that you interrogated with. Jamaica test more sensitive,

it is and mixed with silver nano particles.

You can see that the laser is hitting the sample. We just run the

sample and hopefully you can see. Wet track on the screen, three peaks

because the test can find the fingerprints of more than one

bacteria at a time. The sample size is small, C wants to detect as many

things as possible. The technique we use have the ability to detect more

in one sample. The researchers say this could be applied to any kind of

pathogen that contains DNA, like the guy or viruses. This is just the

beginning. -- Fundy. Now, some other stories from across

the country. Part of a busy Aberdeen road is due to close for four

months, prompting a warning of traffic delays. The section of

Mugiemoss Road will close in March for work on a new housing

development. The authority says the decision to close the road has not

been taken lightly. The closure is expected to have a knock-on effect

on the already congested Parkway area of the city. Maternity and

object tricks services at Caithness General may have to be scaled back

due to a staffing crisis. NHS Island has a long-term problem with

recruiting specialist staff to work. Bosses say these have been

compounded by the death of a locum who had been appointed to take over

a vacancy at the hospital. A Western Isles ferry has crashed into a

pier. The Clipper Ranger was withdrawn from service, and its

replacement is also now undergoing repairs. Crippling housing debt run

up by Shetland Islands Council in the 1970s has been slashed, thanks

to contributions from the Westminster and Holyrood

governments. The outstanding debt of 36 William pounds has been cut to

?16 million. The building of the Glasgow Sheriff Court has been given

a Grade B listing by Historic Scotland. The 3-storey structure,

opened by the Queen in 1986, is one of 256 listed post-war buildings in

Scotland. Plans to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of

Bannockburn have been dealt another blow. It has emerged that the

creative director of Stirling 2014, Iona Crawford, has left her post.

She had been hired to plan the celebrations. The Church of Scotland

has unveiled new ceremonial jewellery, to replace items which

went missing at Edinburgh airport last year. The original chain, cross

and rain have never been found, despite a substantial reward. It is

lovely, it shows the fishes. It has got Scottish gold in it. I will

cherish it in the time that I have it and I will make sure that I look

after it. An endurance athlete is bidding to become the first person

to run around his home island of Skye. He is hoping to do it in 35

hours. Eilidh MacLeod reports. The tattoo is a constant reminder of the

goal Ally Macpherson has set himself. 120 miles around his native

island, ready much nonstop. The 35-year-old took up distance running

again only three years ago, having done it his youth. I was a heavy

smoker, and I hardly drink now. Trying to say that with a straight

face, but... Compared with what I used to drink, and at the moment, no

alcohol at all. I am a lot healthier, enjoying life a lot more.

Two months before his big challenge, and he is running around 100 miles a

week. He even manages to keep up his training when the boat is tied up

for the night. Seven and a half times around the ferry is the

equivalent of a mile. I try to run a mile and then just keep it going.

Back on fairly dry land, he and fellow running club members are

warning up for a ten mile run through the forest. Some of them do

not know yet, some of the members of the running club, but some of them

have come out to volunteer to Hockney. We will try and make it

fun, as much as we can, along the way. Really looking forward to it.

Ally Macpherson wheel set out on the morning of the 11th of April,

collecting money for charity along the way, and with the challenge of

completing it by nine o'clock on Saturday night. Good luck to him.

Let's turn our attention is to other sport now. Good evening. We will

have news from the Winter Olympics later. But let me start with this.

Football referees and controversy go together, but this season, it is the

application of the law on handball which has got managers and fans hot

under the collar. Now, one of the top referees in the country says he

understands why. I caught up with him at the launch of a drive to

recruit and train young match officials. Every season seems to

throw up a different subject which seems to be quite topical for that

particular year. This year, it is handball. So, when is handball a

handball, and when is it not? That is the question. And Stephen McClain

can answer it, because he is the Scottish FA's education manager.

Here is his hands-on guide. The guidelines have given us different

leaders, which allow us to make sense of certain situations. As the

player had the opportunity to take his hand out of the way, or has he

left it there deliberately? Is it in a natural or in an unnatural

position? When the arm starts to come out into a higher position, is

making his body bigger, so that would be an unnatural position, and

we would interpret that as deliberate handball. It is a

difficult law to understand, because there is a grey area, there is a

degree of interpretation. I would like to ask you about offside, but I

think my brain would explode. Thank you very much! Now, for a look at

some more sport stories today. The continuation of top-class European

rugby next season for Glasgow and ended breath -- Glasgow and

Edinburgh seems closer. Andy Murray is in action at a world tennis event

in Rotterdam tonight. If he beats his French opponent, he will be

through to round two, against an Austrian. Michael Moffett has had a

suspension for breaching football betting rules reduced on appeal. He

will sit out for games, instead of six. David Smith will be out for up

to six weeks because of a hairline fracture in his knee. He has

featured regularly for Hearts this season, scoring in the Edinburgh

derby in January. And there are more sport stories, plus all the latest

news, on the website. Now, as promised, the Winter

Olympics, saving the best till last. The curling centre was the place to

be for those following Scots at the Winter Olympics today. Great

Britain's men and women both in action. They enjoyed mixed fortunes.

With their teams among the world's finest, the Canadians certainly

enjoy their curling. But for four ends, Team GB were their equals,

until this fine shot but Canada ahead. The Brits fought back, but

with the possibility of a triple of their own, and unfortunate clip

yielded only a single. This gamble to win outright rather than force

the extra end did not pay off, Canada winning 9-6. It is

frustrating, but it was always going to be tough. Yes, we did not manage

to win, but there is a long way to go. If we can play like that against

a lot of the teams here, it will be good. There are a lot of positives

to take. We cannot get down about it. Having played and lost to the

top two nations, they have played three, won just one. The next

challenge for the men is the European champions. With

Switzerland's credentials perhaps in mind, GB were adopting a cautious

approach. The Swiss pulled it back to 3-2, but David Murdoch was in

control for the final end. We really wanted to come out with a lot of

intensity and focus, and you saw that in our game. We were a lot more

clinical, we put our shots where we wanted. We have a lot more fire in

the stomach today. We were going hard for everything just we bossed

the game. So, they will try again for a double win tomorrow. And that

is the sport tonight. Well, so many weather problems down

south, and also the snow up here. A busy one for you. Absolutely. More

wintry weather on the way tonight, and very windy conditions to come.

To the point where the Met Office has issued an amber warning, to be

prepared, primarily for the far south of Scotland, this evening,

where the winds will be gusting in excess of 80mph. Going through the

night, the strong winds will tend to transfer slightly further

north-eastwards, and accompanying the windy conditions, we will have

some snow showers feeding in across many parts of the country. That will

be primarily over the high ground, although there could be some snow at

low levels as well across parts of the South. This is all leading to

very, very hazardous driving conditions, with drifting and

blizzard conditions likely. For parts of the central Highlands,

where the winds will be lighter, we will have clearing skies in between

the showers, so there is a risk of ice on untreated roads and services.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, this area of low pressure continues to pull

away to the north. We start the day on a wintry note, and they windy

note. The snow showers continue, specially over the high ground of

the north-west Highlands. But it becomes dry elsewhere, for the

arrival of more showers into the south during the afternoon. Taking a

closer look tomorrow afternoon, these showers will be affecting

southern areas, primarily falling as rain, perhaps some snow on the very

highest levels. There will be a lot of dry, bright weather in Argyll,

the central belt and into the north-east. Holding onto the showers

inland. The winds will gradually be easing down during the course of the

day, although it will stay fairly breezy. Into the evening period, we

will continue to see some showers. They will tend to be easing off,

with a widespread frost, and Friday is looking the best day of the week.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news... The Deputy First Minister,

Nicola Sturgeon, has accused Westminster of "bullying and

intimidation". It follows the revelation that Chancellor George

Osborne is to rule out an independent Scotland sharing the

pound with the rest of the UK. Hurricane force winds have been

battering the west of England and Wales. It follows a red warning from

the Met Office - the first this winter - meaning there is a risk to

life and widespread damage expected. And that's Reporting Scotland. I'll

be back with the headlines at eight and the late bulletin just after the

ten o'clock news. Until then, from everyone on the team right across