27/01/2016 Reporting Scotland

That's all from the BBC News at Six so it's goodbye from me

and on BBC One we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.

Hundreds of jobs at risk as Texas Instruments,

one of Scotland's last big electronics companies,

The news is described as a shattering blow to the area.

Also on the programme: Holyrood's Forth Road Bridge inquiry

is told that engineers wanted to replace the component

which broke, causing its closure, five years ago.

Hundreds of people are evacuated from their homes in parts

of the Borders, after severe flood warnings were issued.

Measures to protect Scotland's undersea world come up

against fishermen worried about their livelihoods,

And Andy Murray is into the semi-finals

Older brother Jamie is also through in the doubles.

The owners of one of the last big electronics factories in Scotland,

Texas Instruments will phase out operations at their plant

in Greenock over the next three years, putting hundreds

They say production is being moved to more

Work those leaving Texas instrument in Greenock this afternoon. At

lunchtime, they were called to be a meeting to be told this plant is on

borrowed time. Production work -- will be phased out in the next three

years and the work moved to more efficient plants in Germany, Japan

and North America. The plant, owned by National Semiconductor until five

years ago, has been a major employer in the area for more than 40 years,

making semiconductor chips for computers and phones. It still

employs more than 365 and the site manager, who transferred from the

previous firm, said in a statement this afternoon.

The Provost of Inverclyde was working in this plant himself ten

years ago. He is reeling from the news. As you know, over the last 20

years, we have lost a lot of our manufacturing base. We had the

shipyards, even IBM. They have all gone. Through the whole period, this

plant was always there, and it is a real body blow to lose it. Texas

Instruments says it will try to sell the plant off as a going concern,

but now this global tech giant, one of the biggest manufacturers of

semiconductor chips in the world, has decided to pull out, it may be a

difficult task to find another company keen to move in.

Has this come out of the blue? It certainly seems to have come as a

major shock and surprise to people here. That is because, when this

plant was taken over back in 2011, there were future plans and it was

hoped it would go from strength to strength. But that has been -- not

been the case, as of that meeting today. The local authority,

Inverclyde Council, is setting up a task force. The Scottish Government

has been in touch today to see if anything can be done. For the

workforce, the 365 people who work here, it is a very glum night, even

though they are being told the first redundancies will not happen until

late in next year. Scotland's top law officer says

he will not support attempts to bring private prosecutions

against the drivers involved in two Frank Mulholland says in both

the case of the Glasgow bin lorry crash in December 2014

and an accident four years earlier, in which two friends died,

he stands by his original decision The families involved can still ask

the High Court in Edinburgh to allow You're watching Reporting

Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on

tonight's programme: The underwater world

around our coasts. Fishing crews say livelihoods

are at risk by plans for a network In sport: Andy Murray's not the only

Scot in a semi final We'll also find out why the England

rugby coach says Scotland The first junior club to reach

the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. Engineers in charge

of the Forth Road Bridge's maintenance wanted to replace

the component which broke, causing its three-week closure,

five years ago, a committee of MSPs Former bridge engineer Barry Colford

told the Holyrood inquiry into December's closure that

funding wasn't available because other issues posing

a greater safety risk These were the scenes at the end of

last year, as the Forth Road Bridge was closed because of a problem with

one of the links. At the time, there were claims that the planned work to

replace them had been cancelled due to a lack of funding. Today, former

bridge master Barry Colford told the enquiry he had put forward plans for

the improvements but other projects have taken priority. We prepared the

capital programme, the board approved it, and then we had to

ensure that we got the money for that capital plan, and that involved

negotiation and discussion with transport Scotland. Did transport

Scotland pull the plug on the funding? The funding came from

transport Scotland and the Scottish Government so the answer is

self-evident. The Scottish Government said, before the bridge

authority Fetter was scrapped, it was responsible for prioritising

repairs and it made no approach about funding those links. Ministers

maintain that the problem which led to the bridge closure would not have

been predicted. Barry Colford agrees. We spent a lot of time

looking at the trust and links. A lots of engineers were assisting us.

We didn't foresee the issue with the pin sticking, if that is indeed what

the mechanism for failure was. As the enquiry continues, engineers at

the bridge are working around the clock to try to strengthen the

affected area. HGVs are still not allowed to cross but the Scottish

Government is hoping by mid-February it will be open once again to all

vehicles. Scotland's Government and councils

are currently trying to agree on budgets to fund

our local services. Ministers say the offer they're

proposing is tough, but fair. But just days ahead

of the deadline for councils accepting the deal, the body

which represents them has CoSLA says it might make raising

council tax all but impossible. Our Local Government Correspondent

Jamie McIvor is with me now. Why's that option potentially

now off the table? Councils have been getting more

details today of the funding offer from the Scottish Government and it

seems that any that tried to put up council tax would lose substantially

more than they had predicted, so any rise in council tax would have to be

large to be effective, and CoSLA argues it is now so punitive to see

how any council could risk and increase. The big question is what

Moret council will do. It had proposed an 18% rise. They have the

calculators out in Elgin this evening and I think we may hear from

the councils. Why is it such a big issue this year? Many councils say

they are facing bigger cuts this year than anticipated. They have

until Tuesday to decide whether to accept the government offer. The

government accepts it is challenging but argues continues -- includes

money towards education and social care. This is certainly not over

but, as things stand, the odds on the council tax freeze holding have

suddenly shortened. Critics will ask what the price to be paid by local

services will be. Hundreds of people were evacuated

from their homes in parts of the Borders earlier, after severe

flood warnings were issued. Waters in Hawick and Jedburgh peaked

early in the afternoon but two severe flood warnings

remain in place. By midday, the rain had stopped and

it seems that the river has now peaked. As you can see, there is a

huge amount of rainfall coming off the surrounding hills, flowing into

the river achieve yet which is flowing down through the centre of

Hawick. At one point, they thought the damage could have been worse

than it was. Only a month ago when the area flooded during Storm

Desmond. All the homes on the bank, 300 of them plus a local primary

school, they were evacuated because of the fear of flooding. Scottish

Borders Council and the emergency services felt they had no option but

to launch their emergency plan. We got by on the skin of our teeth

today. It was a close call. It shows how fast this river can run and how

high it can go. It rose five feet within an hour this morning. There

is real concern for the town. It seems that Hawick has escaped

widespread flooding, as has nearby Jedburgh, which was badly affected

today, with around 50 homes evacuated. This morning it was

described as chaos across the Borders, with many roads closed. It

seems to be getting back to normal as water levels drop but there are

warnings for more severe weather later in the week.

A mental health watchdog has called for a full review of services

for adults with autism, following its investigation

into the suicide of a woman in a care home.

The woman, whom they refer to as Ms MN,

had been placed in an establishment which only specialised

It comes on the day that campaigners prepare to launch

a new pressure group to improve patient safety.

Our health correspondent Eleanor Bradford reports.

Ms MN had severe Asperger's syndrome yet she was placed in a care home

which didn't specialise in autism but in learning difficulties. Nobody

from the hospital disgorging her this macro discharging her told the

hospital she had tried to take her life twice. They were left to rely

on the advice of a GP who hadn't met her and didn't have her medical

history. Six weeks later, she took her own life, and there is concern

her story might not be unusual. Be services for people with autism and

Asperger's are patchy, especially for people with complex needs, like

Ms MN. The issue of her being a square peg in a round hole, being

fitted to services which were not able to meet her needs, is something

we could -- we think could be happening to other people.

Initially, hospital bosses didn't think there was a need for an

investigation and, when they carried one out, it was positive about the

standards of care and it felt there were no lessons to be learned. It

comes as campaigners prepare to launch a new pressure group. They

want an independent NHS regulator with the power to prosecute if

necessary. The mental welfare commission is saying, we hope our

recommendations will be taken up. Well, you know, I hope every week I

am going to win the lottery. We need more than hoping and we need more

than recommendations. 20 years ago, I was regulating and inspecting

health care and care homes. I would look at this report and say, these

are the type of incidents which should have been eliminated by

application of the law a long time ago. The Scottish Government says it

does have regulatory bodies, of which the mental welfare commission

is one. It says much has changed since this case in 2012, although it

recognises that care for adults with autism could be improved.

Tax rises are rarely proposed before elections,

but that's just what the Liberal Democrats are doing.

They lost more than two thirds of their seats in the last Holyrood

election, but they're saying a penny increase is now needed

to save the education system from Scottish Government cuts.

The SNP say they're investing in education and a tax increase

Here's our political correspondent, Andrew Kerr.

Is there any monsters? No monsters but another scary election ahead for

Liberal Democrats, according to be polls. They might not be able to

grasp power, but they are using a new Hollywood power to present what

they think is a far-sighted plan for the education system. Cause it is so

urgent, because the SNP are cutting so deeply into our schools and

colleges, we need to make that investment. The Lib Dems have been

here before. Up until 2012, they suggested a similar policy. The

money from the income tax increase would be directed to a pupil premium

for those needing extra help at school, an expansion of nursery

education, a so-called repair the college system after cuts, and

stopping cuts to councils, which impact on schools. The Lib Dems are

trying to peg the SNP into a corner with this policy. Willie Rennie

accuses the First Minister of talking left but acting right. The

SNP tried 1p for Scotland in 1999 but the investment didn't pay off at

the ballot box. Today, the party say they are investing in education

without the need for tax increases. The government has put ?5 billion

in. We have an extra ?100 million fund and I think we are targeting

that in the right place to the right areas at the right time, and it is

more important that we do that than the Lib Dems get a tax increase to

the poorest. The Lib Dems say their plan is bold, raising ?475 million.

They say it will not be poorest, who benefited from their tax changes in

government. It may be a refreshingly different campaign.

Fishermen have been protesting at Holyrood over

the Scottish Government's plans for a network

The issue has come under renewed scrutiny from MSPs,

amid warnings fishing crews' livelihoods are at risk,

and claims those in favour of the measures have been

Our environment correspondent, David Miller, has more.

Making a living from Scotland's stormy seas is not easy and fisher

men fear these plans will make it harder still. The government was

happy and then the Minister went against his own signs. It makes me

angry the Scottish supporting the fishing industry.

Fisher men from across the west coast came to Holyrood to make their

views known. Supporters of the marine protected areas came as well.

This is a bitter debate with strong views being expressed on both sides

and today it is Holyrood's rural affairs committee which has found

itself at the centre of the storm. The committee rejected a bid from

Conservative MSP Jamie McGregor to scrap the planned fishing

restrictions after hearing this warning. Many people have said they

are too scared to speak out publicly or make their views known and I have

urged them to do so. It has exacerbated affairs. Campaigners who

backed Marine protected areas claim the support of anglers and creel

fishermen. Do they have something to celebrate tonight? We will not be

celebrating until we see a recovery in our inshore waters and we see a

more mobile marine environment and we see fishermen being able to catch

fish, a good variety of species and not being reliant on the Proms and

the scallops we have seen for the last decade. Feelings are running

high. The fight over the future of Scotland's sees seems far from over.

A look at other stories from around the country.

Shareholders in Shell have approved the takeover of the energy

83% voted in favour of the $49 billion deal.

Both companies warn that the deal would lead to thousands

Police have carried out a training exercise

at a shopping centre near Glasgow to test their response

The operation at Intu Braehead involved all of the

Police Scotland say the exercise was not staged in response

Scotland's lifeboat crews launched more than 1,000 times

year, saving 29 lives according to the RNLI.

The Broughty Ferry station at Dundee was the busiest.

The charity says its crews also worked exceptionally hard to help

These panels the height of four double-decker buses if you were too

stacked one on top of the other. They can take over 13,500 metres of

water. This area, Springburn in the north of Glasgow, on this road has

flooded many times over the last few years. During stormy weather the

hope is that these tanks will fill instead of the sewers overflowing.

A public meeting's to be held in the village of Cromarty tonight

over concerns about plans to allow ship-to-shore crude oil transfers

Opponents say the proximity to conservation sites could bring

A man has collected a ?1 million lottery prize at a Glasgow

bookmakers after a chance conversation with a taxi driver.

The passenger was unaware he'd bought the winning Irish Lotto

ticket at a Ladbrokes shop in the Parkhead area.

He only checked it when the driver told him about the unclaimed win

Let's get all tonight's sport now from David.

Don't want to jinx him, but Andy Murray's doing the business

Andy Murray is through to yet another Grand Slam semi-final.

He beat David Ferrer in four sets to reach his sixth

It means Murray faces the world number 14 Milos Raonic

And as Kheredine Idessane reports, it sets up the possibility

If you do not have a ticket, grab whatever seeds you can. Scottish

support for Andy Murray outside the rod labour arena amid the gathering

gloom. With a storm on the way, how far could them and get before the

roof was closed? He started well taking the first set with a single

break of serve. The second set was the most competitive, going all the

way with a tie-break which featured this 27 shot rally. The Spaniard won

the point and went on to level the match. The next move was Andy

Murray's breaking for a 3-1 lead, before taking a break from the

elements. It was an interruption which suited the Scot as he saw out

the set 6-2. He closed out the match in three hours and 20 minutes and

reached a sixth semifinal. I am trying to get through all of the

match is the best I can and today was the best match I played here,

especially from the middle of the second set onwards it was when I

started to play well. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead. A piece

of history has been made in Melbourne.

For the first time in the open era two brothers are through to the

semifinals of the Australian open, singles and doubles. Scottish

siblings in the Murray brothers, but there is the possibility of a

Scottish treble with Helensburgh's Gordon Reid also through to the

semifinal. wheelchair event semifinal.

It's ten days till Scotland kick off the Six Nations rugby at home

to England and it seems the mind games are underway.

The new England head coach Eddie Jones says Scotland,

and not his team, will start the match as favourites.

Before the storm comes the calm and before the six Nations championship

this is just that, pictures and posing at the official launch. This

is all about the head coaches and the captains meeting the media. At

the moment in this room it is Scotland's turn, that is why Greg

Laidlaw is in the chair. It came off the Aussie boy. He is captain again,

but he is a leader scarred after that controversial 1-point defeat to

Australia in the World Cup quarterfinal. I will take that to

the grave with me and I will say that truthfully. It is difficult to

take, but we do not deserve anything and nobody will give us anything

easy and nobody should feel sorry for us. Scotland's form in the World

Cup was outstanding, they have got a settled team and a good coach who

has been there for a while. We have come together and have only had six

training sessions together, so there is enormous pressure on Scotland to

perform, not so much ass. Mind games perhaps, we will have to wait

another ten days to see if they will work.

Linlithgow Rose have become the first team from the country's

junior leagues to reach the last sixteen of the Scottish Cup.

The West Lothian club knocked out SPFL club Forfar Athletic last night

Going where no junior club has gone before. That goal by this man taking

Linlithgow Rose to the fifth round. We were just running on empty,

running on adrenaline. Luckily enough we got a wee break. Their cup

road has been a long one with trips to Galashiels, Inverness, further

north to play Wycombe Academy, and two for fur. Throw in postponements,

replays and the abandonment of the original game against Forfar, and it

has been epic. It is over 2000 miles and the amazing thing is for a

junior team to get to the last 16 of the Scottish FA Cup shows the junior

game is still in good heart. Destination Dingwall next, to play

premiership club Ross County for a place in the quarterfinals. We will

listen to the game plan and sell the game. But on the day anything can

That is it from me. is not over yet. That is it from me.

It is a wintry and cold night tonight on the card and thank you to

our viewer for the picture. It is chilly and there are frequent wintry

showers. This is the chart and there either showers, most of them in the

West. A few further east, but also dry conditions in Aberdeenshire and

down towards the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway. Temperatures are low

and in the countryside it is below zero. Tomorrow it is a windy start

and we still have that warning for eyes across western parts of the

country. Further east we will see a few showers with brighter weather

through the course of the day until mid afternoon when we see this band

of heavier and more persistent rain arrived. In the afternoon any dry

weather is in the far east across East Lothian and five, Angus and

Aberdeenshire. Further west it is wet and windy. The snow is really

just on the tops of the mountains. Still dry in Aberdeenshire and the

northern islands and Caithness, but it is windy. We have a Met Office

warning in force because there is the potential for further localised

flooding with difficult conditions on the roads. A second pulse of wet

weather arrives as we had overnight Thursday into Friday. It is all

connected to this area of low pressure in the far north and not

only does that mean very wet weather, it means very windy weather

as well. On Friday it is a wet start and then showers with bright spells.

But you are likely to seek gale force gusts in the mainland and in

the Northern Isles potentially storm force gusts and the temperatures

take a tumble as we head through the day. That sounds grim. That is all

from us and I will be back with the headlines at eight and more Scottish

news, sport and weather in the late bulletin just after the ten o'clock

News. Until then, have a very good evening.