30/03/2014 Reporting Scotland

Good evening. On the final day of the Lib-Dem conference in Aberdeen,

the Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has countered claims that

Better Together is in trouble. Nationalists say the pro-union

campaign has been "holed below the water line" after yesterday's row

over currency. But, as our Political Editor Brian Taylor reports from

Aberdeen, Mr Carmichael insists Better Together will fight back.

Liberal Democrat leaders say the campaign remains strong, but they

have suffered from the suggestion that a currency union would be

arranged post independence. National assay the unionist hopes are

floundering. People with in the own organisation, people with the

ministerial team believe, why should Scottish people believe any

different? We have no seem that the ball off has been called. Alistair

Carmichael concedes that independence may win the day, but

says the campaign will offer a better alternative to voters. I do

not think we are any different, but look where we are, we are still

significantly ahead in all of the surveys. There have been warnings at

the conference that the pool union campaign needs to step up its

campaign. A man has died after falling on Ben

Nevis in the Highlands. The 57-year-old from Glasgow was

climbing with a friend on the north face of the mountain in Lochaber

yesterday when the accident happened.

A major advertising campaign has been launched by a Scottish council

to encourage people to come forward if they fear a child's being abused

or neglected. It is one of the biggest local campaigns on this

issue ever seen in Scotland. But such campaigns, however well

intended, are not without their risks. If you live around Greenock

or Inverclyde, you could hardly miss this message. There are posters like

this in bus shelters, basically saying that people have any

suspicion about child abuse, do not leave it until it is too late and

phone this phone number. Big local advertising campaigns are

exceptional. The intention is to raise awareness of the issue of

child neglect and abuse. It is also to reinforce key message that it is

everyone's responsibility if they have concerns about abuse or

neglect. There is always the risk of a malicious complaint. Yes, but

better to be safe than wrong. Certain cases such as the Jimmy

Savile enquiry sure what can go wrong. The council has this

reassurance that the campaign will not lead to malicious complaints.

Our procedures are in place. Our staff know how to investigate and

look at enquiries. They will respond accordingly. Some other councils are

watching the campaign with interest. To football now and Hearts have

staved off relegation, for the time being at least, with a 2-0 victory

over city rivals Hibs. The Tynecastle side are languishing

bottom of the Scottish Premiership, but frustrated Hibs' efforts to

secure their exit. Tynecastle was buzzing for the crunch derby. A BMA

and fans were relishing the prospect of relegating the city rivals. But

it was Dale Carrick for the home side who made the early impact. A

BMA began to make more of an impact towards the of the first half. But

there was frustration for them, when they wrongly had the ball

disallowed. With headstone to ten men in the final minutes, Billy King

delivered the knockout all. Relegation temporarily forgotten. At

least from the point of view, it was not their bitter rivals who will

have relegated them. Time now for the weather for this

evening and the start of the week and Christopher is at the map.

Tonight, it stays dry and cloudy. He bitter fog, particularly on the east

coast overnight. Some clear skies across Shetland. Tomorrow, little

change, I'm afraid. Fairly dry and cloudy for many of us. The best of

the brightness in the north-west of the country. As the day progresses,

these polls of Riemann, coming up from the south. On Tuesday, the rain

beginning to work its way northwards, but behind it, largely

dry and the odd nice pale sunshine. Thanks, Chris. And that is Reporting

Scotland. Our next update is just after the ten o'clock news. Until

then, from everyone on the team here in Glasgow, enjoy the rest of your

Sunday evening. Good evening. It has been the

warmest