24/02/2016 Reporting Scotland

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

Protests outside. news teams where you are.

Inside Holyrood, the budget passes with an extra

At Westminster, ministers praise the new financial

deal which will shape future budgets.

The Scottish Government says it stopped massive cuts

Calls for action on long waiting times for NHS

Waiting to have that help and support to treat it, deal with it

and learn how to cope with it makes it worse, to the point where, you

know, I actually thought - what's the point in going on any more?

Floods at this Bathgate estate as a large water main bursts,

A VIP visitor to children's charities in Edinburgh gets some

tips on her forehand. MSPs have tonight voted to endorse

the Scottish Government's budget The Finance Secretary, John Swinney,

announced extra cash for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds

and argued that his overall package But opponents critics said

the new money was "window dressing" in the face of big cuts

in public spending. From Holyrood, here's our political

editor, Brian Taylor. No ifs, no buts, no SNP cuts. Trades

unionists protest outside Parliament claiming that spending cuts would

cost thousands of jobs. The John Swinney disagrees. I frankly think

the claims that have been made about public sector employment are utterly

exaggerated. That's what I think in this debate. Mr Swinney said only

500 devolved public sector jobs had gone in the last year. Overall

employment was up by 20,000. Facing opposition pressure, he announced

extra cash to help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. I can

today confirm to Parliament that I intend to double the amount of

funding that we had planned to allocate to the attainment Scotland

fund over the next three years, taking that fund from ?80 million to

a total of ?160 million. To help cities and towns across Scotland, he

announced an improved rates relief scheme for empty industrial

properties. He said his budget would defend services and protect

hard-working families. I now call on... His claim about public sector

jobs angered Labour's leader. She had a little list. 170 jobs were

lost in Angus this week. This week there will be 350 post posts cut.

Across Scotland thousands of workers losing their jobs. She urged MSPs to

back a 1p increase in income tax as did the Liberal Democrats. I welcome

the decision by John Swinney today did the Liberal Democrats. I welcome

over hiss had attainment fund. I think that is welcome. I think it's

window dressing on a budget that is slashing public services to the

core. The Tories warned that cuts to college budgets would prove

damaging. We should not forget that for many working people looking to

up scale often returners to work such as women who have taken time

out to have children, these part-time courses are absolutely

essential. In the vote, the SNP majority defeated all the opposition

parties combined. Yes, 64. No, 57. So John Swinney's budget goes

parties combined. Yes, 64. No, 57. through. A rehearsal of the

arguments for the coming Scottish elections. Brian Taylor, Reporting

Scotland. Meanwhile at Westminster,

the Prime Minister has praised the financial settlement which will

underpin the new Scotland Bill, saying it is fair for Scotland

and the rest of the UK. The SNP welcomed the agreement,

but said it had been the action of ministers in Edinburgh that had

stopped the Treasury cutting Here's our Westminster

correspondent, David Porter. After months of hard pounding on the

financial nitty-gritty of more devolution and new tax powers for

Holyrood, agreement on what it will mean in hard cash terms. For all

sides, a sense of satisfaction and some relief. I'm happy that the

negotiations went as they did. I'm happy we have a good outcome. I'm

happy that Lord Smith, who is responsible for so much of this

work, put out a statement saying - this delivers Smith and the

principles in full. So no more grievance no. More fussing about

process. No more arguments about the arrangements. Now it's time to get

on and govern. THE SPEAKER: Order. Statement the

Secretary of State for Scotland. Later it was hailed as a truly

historic deal. Others agreed. It marks the removal of the final

obstacle of the transfer of significant and substantial powers

to Scotland. The agreement sees the recommendations of the Smith

Commission delivered in full. But despite the overall welcome, being

Scotland there will always be a political edge. When negotiations

first began, Scotland's budget faced a threat from the Treasury of a cut

of ?7 billion. This week, it was ?3 billion. Yesterday morning, it was

?2.5 billion. Last night my colleagues in the Scottish

Government secured a deal that will ensure Scotland will not be 1 ?or a

penny worse off and the new powers which were promised will be

delivered. What's been greed? The Scottish Government will get to keep

devolved taxes such as income tax and some VAT. The block grant from

Westminster will be adjusted to take account of this. The controversial

Barnet funding formula continues. Signs tonight that that will cause

tensions. As long as we maintain the out moded, out dated and unfair

Barnett Formula, which is throughly disadvantaged to the English, we

will simply Stoke up resentment on both sides of the border. The full

details of the fiscal framework will emerge shortly. Exactly how Holyrood

uses its new powers looks set to loom large in the upcoming

elections. Brian Taylor joins me from Holyrood. As we heard claim and

counter claim over who sealed the deal. How would you assess the last

two-days? Quite remarkable couple of days, Jackie. By comparison with the

tension and drama of yesterday, today's budget debate here seemed a

little tame. It was fiesty on occasion. Today was big legal

politics as well. We are dealing with the small matter of ?30

billion, around that, of public expend spendure for the year ahead

in Scotland. Secondly, with an eye to those elections in May, a

significant argument today over the impact of public sector constraint

upon services and upon jobs. That will be a big issue at the

elections. There was the debate over taxation. Labour and the Liberal

Democrats proposing 1p increase across all bands. John Swinney

saying no, and the Conservatives saying no. That will be a huge issue

at the election. The deal yesterday lib rates the prospect of those new

tax powers coming to Holyrood from 2017, control of all income tax

rates and bands. What happened in the last couple of days, Scottish

politics has been transformed. Brian, thank you.

You're watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC.

Still to come on tonight's programme.

The clean-up begins after part of Bathgate is flooded

The sacked Premiership manager who says he wasn't

You'll see the goals from last night's Premiership

If you go to the doctor with a mental health problem,

should you be treated with the same urgency as if you had

Currently, that's not the case as target times for treatment

for pychological therapies are longer.

Not surprisingly, Scotland's largest mental health charity thinks

Michelle has had depression for six years. She tried to get counselling

from her GP, but the wait was too long. It is's like a big black cloud

over you. You don't know what's wrong. You know something's not

right and waiting to have that help and support to treat it and deal

with it and learn how to cope with it, it just makes it worse. To the

point where, you know, I actually thought - what's the point in going

on any more? She feels if an illness isn't visible people don't take it

seriously. People don't accept it as readily. I mean I have been told -

what have you got to be depressed about? Get over it. You don't look

depressed. You don't look ill. Because my arm's not in plaster, I'm

not ill. One of the largest mental health charities in Scotland says

conditions like depression and anxiety should have waiting times of

12 weeks like physical illnesses instead of 18. This is urgent.

People are becoming more mentally unwell on these waiting list that is

are already too long. People Samh have spoken to are worried and

concerned. The treatments are effective and work for people. They

should be available at the earliest opportunity. The Scottish Government

says it welcomes their contribution and will consider their

recommendations. Police are examining claims

from a prisoner in Northern Ireland that the Scottish serial child

killer, Robert Black, Detectives questioned

Barry McCarney last week. He was housed with Black and it's

understood he told prison officers that Black had admitted

to murdering more children. The Chief Executive of Scotland's

health service has called Paul Gray was giving evidence

to Holyrood's Audit Committee, as MSPs investigate a potential

?50 million overspend on call Committee members expressed

their frustration so much money had been wasted on a badly

drawn-up contract. Tougher penalties are to be

introduced for those found guilty The Scottish Government has accepted

the recommendations from its wildlife crime

penalties review group. It will mean courts could impose

sentences of up to twelve months Families in a street in the wester

inch area of Bathgate got a shock when they looked our

of their windows this morning. A large water main had

burst flooding the road and then their homes -

and it's not the first Cars up to their roofs in water, a

play park submerged. Just after 8. . 00am this morning Bathgate was like

a small lough. People were getting ready for work when water from the

burst main up there came rushing down here and headed down the street

engulfing the houses an the cars there. The first job for fire crews

wases to rescue some families from their homes before the job of

pumping away the four feet of water could begin. 24 properties in this

street alone were affected. Some cars were flooded beyond their roof.

Some of these properties, the brick work, you can see, affected about

four feet in water. The lower floors of these properties. The flood this

morning is all the more concerning for residents here as the same thing

happened four years ago when the water main burst. Once again, they

are counting the cost. That's my company car,

They say they are investigating. The last and happened, the family had to

move out for six months. They will wait to hear how long it will be

this time. The three men behind me have almost

certainly had an impact on your life - Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited

with creating the internet, Bill Gates, the billionaire founder

of Microsoft and Mark Zuckerberg, who came up with

the idea of Facebook. Although computers play

an increasing part in our world, there's actually a shortage

of skilled programmers. But it's hoped a new course

in Edinburgh can change all that, Making sense of digital technology.

This course designed to tackle a serious and escalating shortage of

This course designed to tackle a skilled computer programmers.

Employers argue they need more people with practical coding and

software skills. It's a massive problem every other company in

technology we struckle to recruit. After five months you get involved

through the course, you can get to know the students. That is one of

the benefits of being a partner. At the end of five months you have the

people who can come in and work on projects for you. Five months here

gives students the qualify kagss needed for digital technology jobs

in everything from banking and Government to gaming and design. We

have all these jobs in Scotland, there is not the quality of

programmer out there to fill them. That's why we are focused on the

craft and making sure people can make programmes that are nice and

will work for years and years and years and do things in a good way

instead of being hackers. The emphasis is on practical

applications of computer coding. Those attracted to this field come

from diverse backgrounds. They argue it's more relevant that more

traditional degrees. In computer science you aren't always learning

job skills. A ever you have done that you will learn on the job

skills. The aim of this is to get you into a job. They are teaching

you things you would be using every day in a job. The Government-backed

not for profit academy says it's generating 1,000 graduates in its

first three years. Allowing Scotland's digital economy to

flourish. On the day Dundee United

posted their biggest ever profit, ?4 million, their former manager

says he should have been Jackie McNamara was sacked last

year, but since then, the Premiership club's fortunes

haven't improved and they remain Now managing in the English lower

leagues, he's been speaking to our Senior Football Reporter

Chris McLaughlin. York City, a side struggling near

the bottom of League Two in England. The man in charge is well used to

struggles, sacked by Scottish relegation favourites Dundee United

last year. Could you have turned it around? I had great belief in what

we were doing, yeah. I've done it before. My record at United speaks

for itself. We are getting to before. My record at United speaks

and getting the win ratio. before. My record at United speaks

second to Jim before. My record at United speaks

doing what we have done. Do you before. My record at United speaks

the plug was pulled too soon? before. My record at United speaks

the case. Yeah yeah, for me. Yeah. The much-needed turn around has so

far failed to materialise. I don't think he was the right man.

far failed to materialise. I don't think he was either. He was a good

manager. I regret certain things. A lot of things are out of my control

as a manager. No ill-feeling towards them. Wish them the best. Hopefully

they stay up this season. United's arch rivals Dundee have

earned themselves a Scottish Cup quarterfinal away to Rangers

by beating Dumbarton in a replay. As John Barnes reports,

the win was comprehensive. After a 0-0 draw in the first match,

the premiership club were determined there would be no slip-ups. Paul

McGinley scored the opener. Harkins, who wound up the Rangers fans with

comments about their the week but this time upset

Dumbarton for a second the week but this time upset

night by providing the cross to make it 2-0. Earlier in the second half,

night by providing the cross to make interest from Rangers, knocked in

number three for his eighth goal of the season. Full-back Kevin Holt

then got himself on the scoresheet as he fired in the rebound after

substitute Craig Wythenshawe was parried in. Stuart and his second of

the night to make it 5-0 to make it a comfortable victory. I thought it

was professional and clinical. We scored some big goals. With so much

of the ball and position, I am pleased with the results. Just to be

getting through these games. It is disappointing. But Dundee were

better than us on the night. So, having seen off one championship

club, and the now face another in the quarterfinals. But Rangers may

just provide a more difficult obstacle.

Partick Thistle were also in action last night,

moving up to eighth in the Premiership after two

substitutions paid off for manager Alan Archibald.

He brought on Kris Doolan, who had an immediate impact,

putting Thistle ahead against St Johnstone.

The win was wrapped up by fellow sub David Amoo,

whose epic run to score the second made sure of a win and all three

The man who founded the homeless World Cup and launched The Big Issue

in Scotland is the new chairman of the national sports agency

Mel Young, in the middle here, says greater grassroots

participation is the key to elite-level success.

He's taking over from Louise Martin, who steps down in June.

It's one of her favourite sports, and today the Duchess of Cambridge

got a tennis lesson from Andy Murray's mum.

The Duchess, or the Countess of Strathearn as she's known here,

was on her first solo engagement in Scotland.

Earlier, she visited charities which offer

Hoping to gain a few handy tips on her game, Catherine joined Judy

Murray in a coaching session with tennis on the road which was founded

to give more people the chance to try the sport. Kate is a keen

player, and was able to demonstrate her skills. It was fantastic for us

and our programme, it was fantastic for the school. And it was fantastic

for tennis and for women's sport. The fact that she is such a keen

tennis player and tennis watcher, she said to me when she was leaving

that she would love to come back and do some more. A musical welcome at

St Catherine 's primary school, where the Countess or the work of a

charity of which she is a patron which provides emotional support for

children and their families. At this educational centre, the countess

visited the art room, another of her charities. This is their first

studio in Scotland and through art, they help children with issues like

self-esteem and confidence. The art room has helped me a lot. In my

class, it has made me behave better than I used to. I have to say, the

class, it has made me behave better children were amazing. Even the most

withdrawn and unconfident child was willing to talk to her. She is

brilliant at putting children at ease. As she understands what we are

about. But art was not the only topic of conversation. She asked

what he might support and I said head. I after she was a Hibs fan and

she said yeah, which was funny. This was a short visit to Edinburgh, but

a significant one, as it marks the countess's first solo official

engagement north of the border. Now here's Shelley Jofre

with details of Scotland 2016. Tonight, now the deal has been done,

how might the Scottish Government use its new powers? Is Britain

setting a dangerous precedent by undermining human rights?

And they look ahead to Friday's election in the Irish Republic. All

that and more on BBC Two at 10.30. Let's get the latest weather

outlook from Christopher. It has been a lovely week of whether

for many so far, and there is more to come. A great picture from one of

our weather watchers here. Blue skies and very few showers. Cold and

frosty, and those wintry showers continue tonight, particularly

across the mainland, but also in Shetland, where we have a yellow be

aware warning. There may be snow even at lower levels. Inland, dry,

clear and cold, with a widespread frost and temperatures sub zero.

Tomorrow, it is a cold and frosty start, with the risk of icy patches

around the northern and western coast. Icy showers again around

Jutland, but using during the day. For most, it is a sparkling day. By

mid-afternoon, three to five Celsius, but it should still feel

pleasant, with light winds. Perhaps a bit of cloud around the West

Coast. But for many, it is a bright and sunny day. The cloud should not

spoil things. Inland, where we have snow, it is chilly, but the winds

are light and it should not feel bad. The showers across Shetland

will clear away. Towards the evening, cloud builds across the

West and south-west. If you read showers, but for many, it is a dry,

cold and frosty night. Towards Friday, low pressure nearby, but it

should not trouble us too much. Perhaps more cloud at times. Only

wintry over the high ground. For many, it is a dry and bright day.

Some cloud at times. The winds are light again. Into the weekend, for

both Saturday and Sunday, high pressure firmly in charge. That

means a lot of dry and fine weather, with Spurs and sunshine. A bit of an

easterly drift at times, so a few showers across eastern parts of the

country, but most are dry. Now, a reminder of

tonight's main news. MSPs have tonight voted to endorse

the Scottish Government's budget The Finance Secretary, John Swinney,

argued that his overall package But opposition critics said

the new money was "window dressing" in the face of big cuts

in public spending. I'll be back with the late bulletin

just after the ten o'clock news. Until then, from everyone

on the team right across