07/09/2016 Reporting Scotland

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

The Prime Minister says she won't be giving a running commentary

The First Minister accuses her of not having a clue what to do next.

BBC Scotland finds that more than 100 branches have closed

across the country in the last year - with more closures to come

The prison system comes under strain from the rising number

of sex offenders - and from the age of those convicted.

Campaigners warn that shutting a cleft surgery centre

As Warren Gatland is named as coach of the British and Irish Lions,

will he pick any Scots to face the world champion

The prospect of Britain leaving the European Union has

dominated debate at both Westminster and Holyrood.

Under challenge from the SNP, the Prime Minister saidshe would not

But in the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said

that was because Theresa May didn't have a clue what to do next.

I'm joined now by our political editor Brian Taylor.

Thank you very much indeed. The single market is the core of the

economic structures of the European Union, that allows free trade across

all 28 member nation, it is the single market that Japan was talking

about when it said it was worried it would lose connections with its

British investment and the remainder of the European Union, so it is at

the centre of the whole thing. There could be continued British

membership of the single market or some form of limited forms of access

to the single market. The Prime Minister was charged in the Commons

by the SNP Angus Robertson to say whether she sip ported full

membership of the single market. She was asked that twice and she

declined to answer in those term, here is what she replied The United

Kingdom will leaf the European Union, and we will build a new

relationship with the European Union. That new relationship will

include control of the movement of people from the EU into the UK, and

it will include the right deal for trade in goods and services. That

formulation, that formula used by the Prime Minister didn't impress

the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, she was updated MSPs here in

Holyrood with regard to Brexit and Scotland's interests there on. She

said she accused the Prime Minister of having a lack of clarity, with

regard to Brexit, and particularly with regard to the single market. I

do not think it is acceptable to have a cloud of secrecy hanging over

the UK Government's negotiating position. I don't think it is accept

to believe have a Prime Minister that is unable or unwilling to

answer the simple question, should we remain in the single market or

not? The UK Government's position is they don't want to do a running

commentary, they want to allow the position to be formulate and hard

bargaining with the European Union. Other development tonight, a row

within the Labour Party, Jeremy Other development tonight, a row

Corbyn talked in the Commons about free trade dogma and a spokesman for

him later said that Mr Corbyn would not necessarily back membership of

the single market. It might be something to do with access. It has

caused a big row. Tonight in alert Kezia Dugdale who leads the Scottish

Labour Party stressed she took an Auton Moyes position, she backed the

EU, she backed the single market, and she backed the Scottish

Government in seeking to retain both. Thank you Brian.

If you thought finding a high street bank branch was becoming

increasingly difficult, you'd be right.

According to BBC research, Scotland has lost or is about to lose almost

150 branches across six of the biggest names

Over a hundred branches have already closed their doors this year.

And over the coming months dozens will follow suit.

Kevin Keane is in Aberdeen - a city losing nine of its banks -

for years but are disappearing fast. for years but are disappearing fast.

-- sight, in Aberdeen alone nine bank branches have shut in the last

year or are currently earmarked for closure. And it is not just here,

BBC analysis has found that the country is losing almost 150

branches over 18 month, Edinburgh lost the most, more than 20. Eight

are closing in Moray, a further eight in the Highlands.

Like many other banks the TSB found it has a large number of branches

concentrated into one small area and so this and four others are closing.

With investment instead going into a new superbranch in the city centre.

Rural banking is changing too, in Sligo the mobile bank is replacing

the branch. And this basic paper based service

is about to be modernised. We will still offer cash

transactions both to pay money in or take it out, but we will also have

digital capability so we will have broadband connection, Wi-Fi

connection on the mobile branch. We will have iPad type tablets. The

branch here will close next month, when the van will become the only

option. For villagers it is a big change. I have always been used to

going into a branch. I would like to still continue to do that. I do

internet banking myself. Transferring money in. It is fine to

speak to the manager now and again. In a shrinking retail sector filling

the empty branches is not easy, but this former Santander has been

turned into an AEG. They recognise its unlikely retailer will snap them

up. They are more like toy look at the

bespoke stopping centres and retail outlet, I think the largest city

centre bank branches are, lend themselves proper better to the

restaurant and certainly to bars and coffee houses, nightclubs etc.

The face of banking is changing, as people shift online. But that is

changing the face of the high street too, as more branches close for

too, as more branches close for good.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons has highlighted two growing problems

The number of prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences has

And as many are convicted of historical crimes,

there's also been a significant rise in the number of older prisoners.

Our home affairs correspondent, Reevel Alderson, reports.

It is Scotland's biggest jail one of the older, the grim Victorian

buildings present their own problems in ensuring conditions are

acceptable in the 21st century. Now there is another challenge for staff

here, growing numbers of sex offenders.

The number of prisoners in Scotland's jails was 7416 at the end

of last week, but of these, 1100 or so are convicted sex offenders,

round 15% of the total. And the proportion has quadrupled in recent

years. That provides extra challenge for the staff here in terms of

arranging programmes and making sure they are case management is

conducted properly. Because they are segregated from the normal

run-of-the-mill prisoner? They are kept in one particular haul and so

they are kept separate from activities, for education, for work,

and that adds complication for the prison. Hall Many convicted sex

offenders like John Farrell are elderly, he is 73 and serving five

years for abusing boys. Paul Kelly was jailed with him for ten year,

the men are typical of older prisoners serving sentences for

the men are typical of older offences decades ago. 12% of

prisoner, in Scotland, are over 50 and more than 100 are over 65. The

Prison Service is having to buy in social care services like those

provided for elderly people in the community. We are seeing increasing

number of people getting sentences for crimes that were committed 30,

40, even 50 years ago so the age profile of the prisoners in that

population has increased considerably, these prisoners come

with all of the psycho geriatric problems and we are having to cater

for that. Largely designed to cater for young fit inmates prisons are

increasingly having to make costly adaptation as more elderly people

Health managers want to shut the Edinburgh unit -

which operates on children from Shetland to Selkirk -

and move all services to Glasgow, but protesters argue Scotland's

children will be failed if this centralisation goes ahead.

Alex has had many operations. He doesn't want his surgeon and her

centre to shut. I want her to stay. Why is that? Because I've still got

more operations to do. He was born with a cleft lip and

palate, one of almost 100 a a year born if Scotland. Surgery can help

with eating and speech. The proposal is flying in the case of quality

care, it is talking about dismantling a close knit team, that

is very much surgeon led. The surgery centre has a world leading

reputation. But health authorities want to shut it down, and centralise

services in Glasgow, because they say the single-handed surgical

service here is not sustainable. Campaigners say the public

consultation has been a sham. Experts argue the quality of care

will suffer as Glasgow's results are worse than Edinburghs. If you look

at the Freedom of Information releases you will find if you are a

patient referred to Glasgow you will end up with more operation, there

are other operations relating to the number of children who will be able

to develop normal speech by age of five.

The authorities stress this is not a cost cutting exercise and reject the

claim Glasgow's results are worse We are considering all the option, what

is important to recognise, if there are any moves, that what is

maintained locally is the services that provide the support.

Alex's family says this is not about how far they have to travel for

surgery, but the continuity and quality of care for all of

You're watching BBC Reporting Scotland.

Research by the BBC finds more than 100 bank branches have closed

in the last year - with more to in the pipeline.

The Prime Minister says she won't be giving a running commentary on

Brexit. And still to come. Why the Scottish food and drink industry is

bullish about Brexit. The former partner of an Indian

restaurant worker allegedly murdered almost 20 years ago has told a court

how he died in front of her. Elizabeth Bryce said she saw

Surjit Singh Chhokar dragged across a street outside their house

by several men before Elizabeth Bryce seen on the left

told the court on 4th November 1998, Surjit Singh Chhokar had gone to his

flat to collect his Giro but found the door kicked in, and no sign of

the cheque. She concluded that a man called Andrew Coulter cashed it in

and approached him to resolve the situation. Elizabeth Bryce told the

court on the evening of November 4th 1998 she was at her home in Wishaw

waiting for Surjit Singh Chhokar to get back from work. She said as he

approached the house, she heard a scream, then she saw him being

pulled across the road by two men, who she identified as the accused

Ronnie Coulter, and another man, David Montgomerie. She said Andrew

Coulter was there. She said she picked up a spade, went outside and

the three men eventually ran off. She told the court that when Surjit

Singh Chhokar came back she saw him being pulled across the road by two

men, who she identified as the accused Ronnie Coulter, and another

man, David Montgomerie. She said Andrew Coulter was there. She said

she picked up a spade, went outside and the three men eventually ran

off. She told the court that when Surjit Singh Chhokar came back

across the road he said "They stabbed me." She said he made a

horrible sound then flopped down. The accused Ronnie Coulter, and

another man, David Montgomerie. She said Andrew Coulter was there. She

said she picked up a spade, went outside and the three men eventually

ran off. She told the court that when Surjit Singh Chhokar came back

across the road he said "They stabbed me." She said he made a

horrible sound then flopped down. She said "I just couldn't believe

it, he was dead. He was just lying there." Under cross-examination,

defence QC Donald Finlay put it to Elizabeth Bryce she organised a

meeting between Andrew Coulter and Surjit Singh Chhokar the night she

died. Later she told the jury I did it and I was stupid. It was to see

if they could sort it out. 48-year-old Ronnie Coulter denies

murdering Surjit Singh Chhokar and trying to conceal the alleged crime.

Scottish food and drink companies expect to create thousands of jobs

and increase their sales over the next five years, and many see

the Brexit vote particularly as an opportunity to grow.

The optimistic outlook comes in a survey for Bank of Scotland.

Our business correspondent David Henderson is to tell us more.

a vote to leave Europe would harm Scottish business.

Well, after that Brexit vote the Bank of Scotland's been speaking

to about 100 firms who make and sell food and drink.

They detect little doom and gloom - in fact half said the Brexit vote

Over two-thirds of those surveyed want to find

new international customers - that's up on last year.

I've been to find out more from a food success story

Business is hotting up for Bell's food group. At their factory they

make food on an epic scale. 60 tonnes of pastry every year and

pies. Lots of pies. They are now investing in new production lines,

so they can find new customers. We are investing millions in new

equipment, that allows us to increase capacity, in terms of pies

we will increase from 31 million a year to approximately 43 million.

That means we can increase our capacity, we can expand, not only

within Scotland, but we can expand elsewhere into England, Ireland and

Wales. Food and drink production is big business in Scotland. Last year,

the value of exports alone topped five billion pounds. But some fear

that Brexit might damage that. Today's survey suggests otherwise,

half of the companies involved said they would raise their growth

forecast for the coming years. There is a lot at stake. Scotland's

growing reputation as a land of food and drink has created jobs, the

sector now employs more than 34,000 people. Some fear cutting off access

to Europe's single market could put a dent in that. There isn't a lot of

uncertainty round Brexit, about 30% of workforce comes from Europe,

about 80% of the food we sell out with the UK goes into European Union

country, our agricultural material is funding by Europe, but ultimately

the industry if we are producing a world class product, billing a

reputation, there is no reason we can't keep growing in markets and

initially. For Claire exporting is the next big step. She co-founded

the Aberdeenshire company Summer House Drinks and is looking to sell

their lemonade and top nick round House Drinks and is looking to sell

the world. Europe is a important market for us because it is very

close, and that makes distribution a lot easier, for us we are very

outward looking Attwell, definitely looking at Canada, America, where

the Scottish diaspora have gone. While selling local produce remains

a popular option some see global markets as the key to future

success. Now most of Scotland's

food and drink exports are made up of whisky,

with ?1.2 billion worth sold in EU What impact will Brexit

have on them? Well, the Scotch Whisky Association

is now sure taxes won't rise That's something which they'd warned

could have cost thousands of jobs. And yet concerns remain about red

tape and bureaucratic barriers. So they're urging the UK government

to adopt a new deal, post-Brexit, which is as open

and free trading as possible. Now a look at other stories

from across the country. Police investigating the murder

of Aberdeenshire handy man Brian McKandie say they could carry

out a mass screening It's now six months since

the 67-year-old was found dead Detectives say DNA profiles have

been found at the house. However, so far they have not been

matched on any database. There are still some other methods

which we can apply in terms of the DNA profiles. Once we have exhausted

those opportunities we will send out a mass screening exercise which will

be a substantial undertaking. A police inquiry is underway

after a man was found dying in the street close

to Dundee city centre. It's thought he may have

fallen from the window Forensic teams cordoned off

the area on Forester Street. An influential committee of MPs

is set to carry out an inquiry into the grounding of the oil-rig

Transocean Winner which became stranded on the Isle

of Lewis last month. The Commons Transport Select

Committee could ask the rig's owners to answer questions on what risk

assessment was carried out before the rig was towed west

of the Hebrides where A prehistoric stone panel said to be

the "most important in Europe" has been unearthed for the first time

in 50 years - next to a housing The Cochno Stone was fully excavated

for the first time since being buried in 1965

to protect it from vandalism. It's thought to be

around 5,000 years old. Council leaders in the Western Isles

have repeated calls for the Scottish Government

to devolve Crown Estate powers over the seabed to local authorities,

as set out in the recommendations I would say the coastal community

have the option of taking control over the management and assets here

and it fits in well with the passing down of decision-making to local

communities. If we keep this centralised think it's a very bad

message to send out. -- I think. The opening ceremony of the 2016

Paralympic games takes The London Games four years ago

were hailed as a game changer for people's perceptions

of disability in sport, but in recent months the Rio Games

have been beset by controversy over funding, empty seats and even

the classification of the athletes. Earlier I spoke to athletics

commentator Alison Curbishley and asked to what extent those

issues had been resolved. I think it's very difficult to know.

Not being part of the IPC and in the setup and in the build-up, but it

has been a terrible distraction for the Paralympics. The news coming

out, not what athletes and the Federations getting ready, is not

what they wanted to hear. And the Games themselves were beset by

issues for the Olympics, but the feeling now is that the silver suits

campaign has been a huge success, with Prince Harry making a donation

to that yesterday -- the fill the seats campaign. They will be some

to that yesterday -- the fill the Brazilian children making some noise

in there, and so I hope that the negative build-up has meant that

people have pulled themselves together to give the athletes what

they deserve which is a fantastic Paralympics. A strong contingent of

Scots out there. Yes, 33 phenomenal Scottish athletes in 12 sports, real

credit to the Scottish Institute of sports getting them ready. In my

event, athletics, we have six very impressive athletes many making

their debut. Libby Clegg was a gold medallist in Glasgow in 2014, she's

a blind athlete. She has been reclassified and so she will run in

a blindfold which she says is terrifying. There are high hopes for

her to finally get a Paralympics title. Stef Reid in the long jump.

Joe Butterfield in the club throw, she is coming in well number one.

High hopes for all six athletes. We wish Paralympic GB or the very best

and we will be keeping in close touch with it -- all the very best.

And good luck to Andy Murray. Andy Murray plays for a place

in the semi-finals of He's up against the Japanese world

number seven Kei Nishikori. Jamie Murray and his doubles partner

Bruno Suarez have clinched their place in the semifinals. They were

victorious 2-1 in their quarterfinal match.

In rugby, the British and Irish Lions head coach for next

year's tour of New Zealand is challenging Scots

No Scottish player has started a Test match for

You would be forgiven for thinking that because the Lions head coach

was being name here in Edinburgh that he might be a Scot or at least

have a Scottish connection, but I'm afraid not. Here he is, Warren

Gatland, the Wales coach, his appointment coming as a surprise to

know one. He was also head coach on the most recent tour in 2013 to

Australia, Scots did not feature much in the big matches then, what

about next year? Scotland have played some great rugby and they had

a good World Cup and we went been looking solely at so-and-so, if the

Scottish players are playing well for their club sides and their form

is good enough for Scotland, they will have a chance of being

selected. Scottish players have been restricted to cameo roles in Test

matches on the last three tours. Richie Gray making an appearance in

2013 and a similar story for Ross Ford four years before and Gordon

Bulloch in 2005, but one former player thinks Scots can make more of

a contribution. WP Nel has a great chance and the grey brothers have a

real chance. Hardy in the back row. And the exciting attacking talents

of Stuart Hogg. He is one of the most exciting runners in the game.

Warren Gatland will name his assistance at the start of December.

Scottish would be Lions will have until next spring to play their way

into his travelling squad. And now we have the weather

forecast. I thought we would take a look over

the next few days and the jet stream is important, the fast moving ribbon

of wind which delivers systems to us, the shape and position is

all-important and what this means, we will have a succession of weather

systems coming our way. Not a wash-out, but Windows of wet weather

which will be drier and brighter. Today was quite warm, temperatures

into the mid-20s, and tonight a muggy close night, reasonably dry

wit showery outbreaks in the North West and murky for the far north --

with. Some heavy rain in the West Coast. The mainland is still dry,

and still warm, overnight lows of 17 degrees for some. Tomorrow morning

the wet weather moves east, and for Thursday morning it is expected to

be wet at times with rain pushing its way through and quite breezy, as

well. By the afternoon the heavy rain has cleared, but still we are

left with a legacy of showers and cloud, the best of any brighter

weather to the east of the country, temperatures 20-21. The morning rain

is still with us at this moment, so quite wet here and indeed quite

windy. The rest of the afternoon into the evening at the rain clears

away, but still a number of showers across the mainland and still quite

breezy at times. As we look ahead towards Friday, window of something

dry and brighter, a few showers across the North West but for many a

decent day, but we have another area of rain arriving. Saturday

reasonably dry, with a few showers, but still quite breezy, and Sunday

dry and bright but with heavy rain arriving as we had overnight into

Monday. Chopping and changing through the next few days.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news.

The prospect of Britain leaving the European Union has

dominated debate at both Westminster and Holyrood.

The Prime Minister said she would not give a "running

But, in the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said

that was because Theresa May didn't have a clue what to do next.

I'll be back with the late bulletin just