06/03/2017 Reporting Scotland

Two Scottish finance companies will merge to create a firm worth

We're on the road with the nurses on call overnight in the Highlands -

because there aren't enough doctors to do it.

They do a marvellous job, absolutely. I don't know what I

would do without them. Also on the programme,

the plume of smoke was visible across the central belt -

this fire in a Glasgow scrapyard We catch up with athletics golden

girl Laura Muir after her double And amid Robin, this was him on come

him still dancing at the age of 80 him still dancing at the age of 80

-- and meet Robin. A financial giant is set to be

created by the merger of two Standard Life and Aberdeen

Asset Management today confirmed their plans to join

forces, creating a firm worth ?11 billion, and continuing

to be based in Scotland. But there are fears of substantial

job losses. Here's our business

correspondent David Henderson. They are true of Scotland's biggest

companies, high-profile sponsors of sporting events -- two. And also low

profile managers of their customers money, they are both known as active

investor which research where the money goes. Investors have moved

away from active investing too passive investing because maybe they

have not seen the performance that justifies the fees, and going to

find a tubal tentative. After this deal is done, the amount of money

being managed by this new investment company will be absolutely colossal.

About ?660 billion. By way of comparison, that is about 20 times

the annual budget for the entire Scottish Government. These two

Scottish firms are big employers, Standard Life has 5000 staff in

Edinburgh alone. Aberdeen 's's Scottish workforce is 800 strong,

but this deal spells trouble for some workers. With the prospect of

job losses where the two firms overlap. It will probably result in

some job losses, maybe between the companies it could be as many as a

thousand but that won't all be in Scotland because there is a

substantial London operation and elsewhere. The fund managers in

particular is where we will see some of the effects and we hope there

will be a bigger organisation that can grow a bit more. This merger

creates a phone which aims to compete with huge American rivals

like Blackrock, and with money management now big business, it

sends a signal to Scottish firms -- it sends a signal that two Scottish

firms have ambitions to become a global giant.

And our business and economy editor Douglas Fraser joins me now

from the headquarters of Standard Life in Edinburgh.

How significant is this for the finance sector and this Cottage

economy? -- the Scottish economy. These are players who want to get

together not just on a European scale but on a global scale, as

well. There are American companies who are bigger, but not many of

them. ?660 billion under management between these companies gives it a

great deal of clout in managing the companies in which it is a

shareholder. It can shape the governments of those companies and

the economy in a big way and it will shape the Scottish economy because

these are very big players in terms of the Scottish economy and they

will show there is a real ambition in Edinburgh. We heard the figure of

potentially up to 1000 job losses. This must be of concern. Clearly,

there is concern especially here in Edinburgh because this deal only

really begins to make sense if you cut costs to deal with competition,

that is what shareholders are being card, that their earnings will

increase because the costs will come down and that can only be dealt with

in a company like this with cutting jobs. Especially where there is

duplication, that will be the sales force, IT and the back-office, and

you might ask, is it viable to stop a merger like this going ahead? But

if they don't do something to stay ahead of the game, and deal with

changes in technology, you could lose jobs by other means other than

merger. Regarding jobs it is worth mentioning this will have another

unusual arrangement, two chief executives working in a job share.

They will be working together. They have said they are very different

people but that is complimentary skills and that is why they get on

well together. They have got on well together for decades because they go

fishing together. Thanks for joining us.

There have been repeated warnings about the recruitment crisis facing

It's a problem exacerbated in rural and remote areas.

In the Highlands, the shortage of GPs has led to the health board

developing a new approach to out-of-hours care,

with highly skilled nurses covering 85,000 patients across a vast area.

Our health correspondent, Lisa Summers, spent a night shift

You have got the address. The night shift is underway and highly skilled

nurse practitioner Louise and driver Steve are on the road. They visit a

Lader -- lady who has other full and they need to decide if she needs to

go to hospital. They are happy to take her but they have no beds so

they are on medical divert to A which is quite common. How long does

it take to have a bed? Oh! How long is a piece of string? They cover a

big area in the Highlands, through to Fort William. The next stop is

back in Inverness. You have no chest pain? No pains. Nurse practitioners

are trying to do many things that pain? No pains. Nurse practitioners

GPs do, the service was set up because of a shortage of out of

hours doctors. Soon Janet feels better. They do a marvellous job,

absolutely, great job, and I don't know how I would do without them.

The team is based at Raigmore's A, and they are supported by a team

after midnight -- until midnight, and after that the back-up is the on

duty doctor at A We have undergone extra training and we are

getting to use it and it is no surprise, the reason we have become

nurse practitioners is because we like a challenge. This job gives us

a challenge every day. Is that so? Louise now sees patients who have

called NHS 24. It is 315 in the morning and this is Louise's fifth

call out of the evening and we are at a care home in Inverness. She is

comfortable and she wants to sleep. We will keep a close eye on her.

When we were in we had another ping on our computer, so no rest yet. The

service evolved because of recruitment shortfalls but it works

well for the community and the people who work in it. We see people

at the most vulnerable times of their life and we know when they are

in pain and they are distressed and I think we are very privileged in

being able to do something. Seven o'clock and the shift is over,

another busy and unpredictable night in the life of out-of-hours care.

A massive fire which threatened homes and businesses

on Glasgow's Southside yesterday afternoon and led to a power

blackout was finally extinguished this morning.

At its height, more than 50 firefighters were tackling

Fire raging out of control on Sunday afternoon on Glasgow's south side.

It took hold in a scrap yard on an industrial

The huge smoke plume created by the blaze could be seen right

Hundreds of people posted pictures on their

It was even visible from the Isle of Arran.

The incident certainly drew a crowd at ground level.

More than 50 firefighters were sent to the scene and at one point water

was pumped from the River Clyde to tackle the fire.

The Fire Service prevented the flames reaching a nearby

electricity substation, but as a precaution,

power to 3,000 homes was switched off for several hours.

Residents were also warned to keep doors and windows shut.

After those dramatic pictures yesterday, the scene

here in Helen Street is very different today.

The fire is now out, but the Fire Service

are maintaining a presence here, as are Police Scotland,

and many people who work in this area on this industrial estate

simply have not been able to get to their jobs this morning.

I have been told by the police that I must wait for my boss, I do not

even know if she is in herself, I have to wait and see.

It was shut down up there, I went a long way around

It took more than 17 hours to extinguish,

now it is time to find out how the fire began.

John McManus, Reporting Scotland, Glasgow.

Police investigating the disappearance of RAF serviceman

Corrie McKeague have begun a full-scale search of a landfill

The 23-year-old from Fife vanished during a night out with friends

Police say that preparations for the search of the landfill have

involved building access routes and moving 8,000 tonnes

The search is likely to take between six and ten weeks.

Police are hunting a gang of about ten people who dragged

a taxi driver from his vehicle in what's said to have been

a racially-motivated assault and robbery in Edinburgh.

The attack happened in West Pilton Place just before

One of the gang jumped onto the bonnet and smashed the windscreen.

A three-figure sum of cash was stolen from the taxi.

Scotland is still in denial over the extent of sectarianism.

That's according an updated report from an academic who carried out

a major investigation into the issue two years ago.

And while Dr Duncan Morrow says sectarianism isn't

exclusive to football, he criticised the game's authorities

Here's our social affairs correspondent Reevel Alderson.

Sectarianism and football have been linked, especially in the west of

Scotland, all firm games in Glasgow have been marred by sectarian

behaviour at Celtic's ground and sectarian chancing at Rangers's

ground, but there are no sanctions available to combat incidents like

these. If you tackled this, it would help, but no club has been docked

points, but football has received millions of pounds of investment to

tackle social problems, so when money is involved football is at the

front of the deed, but when it comes to responsibilities that they can

control, it hides stash at the front of the queue. There has been process

on this issue. This doctor has been gathering evidence for five years

and a review published today says gathering evidence for five years

some areas are improving but much is still to be done. It says there is a

general culture of denial about the extent of problems caused by

sectarianism in Scotland. Evidence between the -- between football and

sectarianism is strong. He called for strict liability. So clubs could

be sanctioned. We recognise that these are strict measures and we

suggest to the football authorities that we would like them to come up

with more targeted solutions if they don't think these are the right

ones, and they have come up with a number of ideas around tightening up

on unacceptable behaviour. And also positive coaching. I've said I'm

Scott -- sceptical that this is anywhere near the level we want. The

SFA say they have tightened their rules and guidelines on unacceptable

conduct this season and they will work with the government on future

improvements. Two Scottish finance companies

announce a merger, which will create

a firm worth ?11 billion. The Aberdeenshire businessman

offering a second chance to youths who started a fire

at his restaurant. Scotland's latest sporting star

is back home tonight after winning two gold medals

at the European Indoor Laura Muir won the 1,500

and 3,000 metres titles Rhona McLeod is at Glasgow's

Scotstoun track with more. Welcome to Scotstoun Stadium,

in the north-west of Glasgow. This is Laura Muir's local track

when she is living here in the city, and studying at the vet school just

up the road, It's hard to believe

that before the weekend, Muir had never won a medal

at a major championship. Now with double gold,

she returns home as one It was the homecoming she could only

have dreamt about. Laura Muir, double European medallist, back in

her homeland this evening, her status has grown after British and

Championship records have fallen in her wake. Pretty much every hour is

scheduled over the weekend, eating at this time, having a massage at

that time, making sure I got myself in the best possible condition for

every round. I now have two gold-medal 's. First stop in her

double attempt was the 1500 metres, and she was the dominant applet,

charging to the front from the early stages. -- dominant athlete. Her

gold medal achieved with a British record. It is not their fault she is

behind schedule. She was not in Belgrade to be pushed around and the

same applied when an overzealous official tried to deny her her

victory lap. The first part of the double completed, day later she

lined up alongside fellow Scots for the 3000 metres. Muir quickly showed

there was no tired legs. She has two gold medals, she is the champion

again. The now familiar feeling of standing at the top of the podium,

and she now considers the challenges ahead, it she will be the one to

watch at London's World Athletics Championships in August. But more

immediately be committed vet student has another focus. I'm a vet student

and I am starting a placement tomorrow so I have got to fit that

in when I can. Nice to get back to that. A high achiever in two areas

of life, the next few months, a that. A high achiever in two areas

juggling act with two fastly different prizes within her grasp.

From an athletics point of view, the World Championships in August is

very much the focus, but she is going to take probably up to a year

off to concentrate on her veterinary studies, athletics fans are waiting

and watching with interest to see if she will be pulling on the blue vest

of Scotland for the Commonwealth Games in just over a year from now

in the Gold Coast. Thanks for joining us.

An Aberdeenshire business owner has offered an unusual reward

after youths started a fire at his restaurant.

William Bird is offering the culprits a job in an attempt

The guys must have come along and opened up this gate from this side.

And then they've come down this lane, here. The Fennel restaurant

has been targeted by fire raisers. They must have brought their own

newspaper or paper with them. Thankfully, these chairs were the

only casualty. You can see from the way it's melted, they must have got

quite a good blaze going on. The incident was captured on CCTV but

the owner won't be pressing charges. This is an individual or individuals

who have done something silly, they've gotten carried away in the

moment, they've made a bad choice. We believe they are very young, 13,

14 years old. I don't want to be responsible for putting them on a

path, getting them involved in a system which will then end up

staying with them for the rest of their lives. Instead, he is setting

them a challenge in the form of a job offer. Come inside, come on the

other side of that wall where you started that fire, come in and see

who we are, work alongside us. See how hard everybody works, what they

do every day. If they do front up, you will have to look people in the

eye, knowing what you did. Police Scotland says a report has been made

in relation to wilful fire raising at Fennel restaurant. It says

enquiries are ongoing. William thinks if the culprits are brazen

enough to start a fire, they might just be brave enough to take up his

challenge. It's being called an

electric revolution. Dundee has a fast-growing

network of charging points, a large fleet of electric taxis

and the biggest pool of council-run As part of the BBC's

So I Can Breathe season, our environment correspondent

Kevin Keane has been for a ride. This is the city that's

leading the charge in electric vehicles, taxis like these

from one of the UK's biggest fleets How did they go down

with the taxi drivers and As far as the drivers

were concerned, OK, they were saving on fuel

because electricity is free. They were saving

about ?130 each week on What is the next stage

of this for you? We've ordered another ten,

goes up to 130 miles an It's music to the ears

of environmentalists. It's pretty exciting to be

in an electric taxi. I suppose that's part

of the ambition, by 2032, you know, most

of the cars on the road will be

electric and not petrol or diesel. What difference would that make

to the air that we breathe? There's a role for electric vehicles

certainly, but the Scottish I think it was 40%

of new sales of cars to be electric by 2030,

which is not particularly ambitious when we look at our European

counterparts. Electric vehicles play

a huge role in raising the barrier because we have an ongoing

public health crisis with pollution Dundee has the UK's biggest fleet of

electric cars. What about the infrastructure? We have a phenomenal

amount of charging points, the most popular ones in Scotland. How

important is that encouraging people? It's majorly important. The

other reason that we are encouraging people, free parking if you have a

purely electric vehicle as well. It helps people to understand that

there is the infrastructure behind it. That they are not necessarily

going to get stuck somewhere, they can come to Dundee for the day and

charge rather than not worrying about focusing on finding spaces.

An all-electric society is still a dream, but Dundee is the

city in front of what's expected to be an evolution over the next two

You know what they say on Strictly - keep dancing!

Well, Robin Flynn has taken that to heart.

Here he is in the original series Come Dancing back in the 1970s.

He's still teaching dancing, and our reporter Graham Fraser

surprised him as he celebrated his 80th birthday with his

Good evening, from Bloor Isco, on the verdant Costa Del Clyde.

-- from Glasgow. We are here today because your friend Alex wrote to

the BBC a few months ago and he was telling us about Come Dancing in

1978 and he wondered if we have footage. You don't! We do. I've

looked everywhere for that. I found it for you and I thought you want to

see it. Yes please. Let's get it on. LAUGHTER

Yes. It was true, he was on TV, darling! I thought you were lying to

us! How does Come Dancing rate in all of

your achievements? Quite high, honestly, quite high. This year,

teaching here, this is number one? I love this! LAUGHTER

Leiua I can't give this up, it's like a drug, honestly. Happy

birthday, Robin. Good evening. Things improved for

many of us this evening. This is one of the pictures. A bit of everything

in the forecast. Tonight, some showers coming in across western

Scotland this evening. They will die away. Much of the country will be

dry with long periods without showers. Frost in the Highlands.

Lingering in Peterhead and Northern Isles and quite windy up here. Under

those clear skies, temperatures falling to around two Celsius and in

the countryside, freezing if not below. Some mist and fog followed by

the countryside, freezing if not morning. In eastern Scotland. It

will be a lovely start for most. A bit of a chill in the air. Some

showers in the west. Rain and wind across the Northern Isles. In the

afternoon, winds picking up along the West Coast, a sign of things to

come. In the afternoon, it brightens up but the rain stays over Shetland

until after dusk. Days quite windy. For much of the daylight hours it is

dry with some sunshine, winds lighter in the mainland but it will

pick up along the West Coast ahead of a band of rain. Temperatures

around eight, nine Celsius. Some warmth in the sun if you are out of

doors. In towards the evening, first signs of that rain cloud trying to

push in across western, coastal areas. Followed by rain sweeping

across the country tomorrow night following snow over higher ground.

Accompanied by strong south westerly winds. Once it opens the floodgates

for the next weather. Westerly winds. It often means showers,

low-pressure close by frequent blustery showers. Northern Scotland

and the Northern Isles with gales. Some brightness in between. Far

fewer showers further south, decent across southern Scotland with some

good, sunny spells. Cold in the westerly wind with highs of eight or

nine Celsius. Now a reminder of

tonight's main news. President Trump has announced

a new travel ban to prevent citizens from a number of

predominantly-Muslim countries from His original version

was blocked by the US courts. Investment companies Standard Life

and Aberdeen Asset Management have confirmed their plans

to join forces. The merger will create

a firm worth ?11 billion I'll be back with the headlines

at 8pm and the late bulletin just Until then, from everyone on the

team, right across the country,