16/02/2012 BBC News at Six

More powers for Scotland. David Cameron makes a new offer in the

devolution debate. A first meeting with Alex Salmond

over rules for the independence referendum. Mr Cameron says talks

on more devolution would come after a no-vote. We have to settle that

question before going and asking, legitimately, it is there more we

can do to improve the divorce settlement? How can we make the

United Kingdom or better? -- the devolution settlement. IMC in

Keighley, let's hear what the other option is, give us the details.

But the two men can't even agree on how the referendum should be held.

Also tonight: Former energy secretary Chris Huhne appears in

court claims that he asked his ex- wife to take speeding penalty

points for him. In court: The woman accused of

murdering the teenage girl in a Doncaster park, as Casey Kearney's

parents pay tribute to their beautiful, intelligent child.

Prison works. Plans to create up to 20,000 jobs for English and Welsh

prisoners. And it's a big day for him. And a

well done from her. Ronnie Corbett In our business, to work or your

life and still be working and then to have this honour at this age

from her Majesty in Buckingham Palace, it doesn't come much

better! Coming up: Rangers administrators

revealed they have received several expressions of interest in the club.

They have also been discussing the Good evening. Welcome to the BBC

News at 6pm. David Cameron has for the first time said he would

consider devolving more power to Scotland so long as there is a no-

vote in a future independence referendum. He made the comments

before talks with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond. The meeting

broke up without any agreement on how the referendum should be

conducted. Mr Salmond said it was wrong of the Prime Minister to make

a new offer about devolution without spelling out the detail.

Scotland is heading for a critical junction in its history. A

referendum that will for the first time allow voters to decide if

Scotland should become an independent country or continue

with its 305-year-old political union with England. The union is to

David Cameron's taste and he fortified himself for his fight to

keep Scotland in it with a visit to a Polish factory in Fife. In an

interview with the BBC, he mentioned the possibility of

devolving more power to the Scottish Parliament only if the

Scottish public reject independence first. The we have to settle that

question before asking legitimately, is there more that we can do to

improve the settlement? How can we make the UK work better? The Prime

Minister and his party's Scottish leader know that opinion polls

consistently suggest that devolution is more popular than

independence or leaving things as they are, but this does passions on

all sides. It should be independent, Scotland is a way of the country

and anybody who thinks otherwise is wrong! -- wealthy country. I don't

see any need for independence. protesters tried to upstage the

Prime Minister in Edinburgh, he tried to add a little passion of

his own to the debate in his first major speech of what could be a

two-and-a-half year campaign. believe in the United Kingdom. I am

a Unionist, head, heart and soul. Then the Prime Minister went to see

the man who wants to take over his responsibilities in Scotland. The

first minister Alex Salmond. David Cameron sees him as a formidable

opponent, who won a political mandate to hold a referendum when

he secured a majority of the seats in Scottish Parliament last May.

are being told that on the table is another proposition. I am saying,

give us the detail. You can't seriously expect the people of

Scotland to go into this great debate, the biggest debate for 300

years about the future of the country, and have people say, we

are thinking about giving you something else but we will not tell

you what. It is hard for David Cameron to campaign in Scotland. It

is not that he is unpopular with anti-cuts protesters, who prevented

him entering by the front door, but that his party is unpopular with

the voters. The Conservatives have only one of the 59 MPs elected in

Scotland. But there will be many voices seeking to influence the

direction Scotland accuses. -- Scotland chooses. Let's go live

to Edinburgh. How significant was the Prime Minister's intervention

today? I think today was a very

significant day in the debate. Not only because the Prime Minister set

out in detail his court case for keeping the union, mainly he

believes we are stronger, safer, more wealthy together, but he also

came with a new offer for the Scottish people, that he is

prepared to consider ceding more power to Scotland if they vote no

in the independence referendum. That is a pitch designed to appeal

to soft nationalists, those who are wavering with the voting for

independence, but it is also designed to reinforce his argument

that there should only be one question on the ballot paper. Yes

or No to independence. And there is no need for a devo max question

because the government is already prepared to consider that.

Interestingly, Alex Salmond did not reject the proposal out of hand. He

simply said he wanted David Cameron to put his plans on the table.

Although there are still significant sticking points, like

timing, my sense is that we are moving towards a deal on the

referendum. Thank you.

The former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne and his ex-wife have made

their first appearance in court accused of perverting the course of

justice. The Liberal Democrat MP is alleged to have asked Vicky Pryce

to take his penalty points for a speeding offence almost a decade

ago. This report contains flash photography.

It was going to be a procedural hearing lasting minutes. The sort

of thing that normally passes unreported. That the accused is a

former Cabinet minister and so Chris Huhne was met by a media

melee. He's co-accused and former wife, Vicky Pryce, was also making

her first appearance at court. The case results from a speeding ticket

issued in March 2003 to the driver of Chris Huhne's car. At that time,

Vicky Pryce received the penalty points but in the 2010, there were

allegations that Chris Huhne had been driving. Both are now facing

charges of perverting the course of justice. It is claimed that during

the investigation, each of them falsely informed the authorities

that she was behind the wheel. They were told to sit in the dock. They

sat apart to hear the judge tell them the case would be passed to

Southwark Crown Court for a full jury trial. This can result in a

life sentence but if they are found guilty, prison terms measure

demands are more likely. -- measured in months. Both Chris

Huhne and Vicky Pryce were able to leave court on unconditional bail.

Neither has formally pleaded not guilty but they say they will

protest their innocence. The trial of a former Cabinet minister and

his former wife is going to attract enormous media interest. The pair

are next back in court on 2nd March. The parents of the 13-year-old

stabbed to death in a Doncaster park have paid tribute to her

saying Casey Kearney was beautiful, intelligent and bright. Today a 26-

year-old woman, Hannah Bonser, was charged with murder and remanded in

custody. Our correspondent is outside the park where a vigil is

taking place. Yes, George, we are not far away

from the place where Casey was stabbed and this vigil has been

organised by friends of her family. As you can see, hundreds have

turned up but many of the people did not know the 13-year-old. But

all these people wanted to show their support to her family. Casey

Kearney's family released this picture today. They said she was

the most beautiful, intelligent and bright young girl, with her whole

life ahead of her, and for the first time, Casey's family arrived

at court to see the woman accused of killing the schoolgirl. 26-year-

old Hannah Bonser. She appeared at Doncaster magistrates facing one

charge of murder and two charges of possession of a knife. Hannah

Bonser was led into court wearing a blue T-shirt. She was asked to

confirm her name and she nodded towards the magistrates. She was

asked to confirm her date of birth and she nodded. The only time she

spoke was when she was asked to tell the court her address. She was

remanded in custody and there was no application for bail. For a

third day at Elmfield Park, friends and family left flowers and

messages need to the place where Casey was stabbed. They are in

shock. This is Casey's Auntie. Casey was lovely. Polite, just...

Just that. She was a nice teenagers. Consider the effects Casey's death

has had on children in Doncaster. It is really sad. I am not even

allowed to play out with my friends any more because of what happened

to Casey. I'm really scared to go out anyway. Tonight police have

continued their search for evidence while Casey's family have now asked

for time alone with their friends. All these people, friends and

family members, are making their way through to the park for the

first time. Hannah Bonser has been remanded into custody and she will

appear before Sheffield Crown Court next week.

Thank you. Parts of Britain could face the

worst drought for over 35 years with some households facing water

restrictions by April. The Environment Secretary, Caroline

Spelman, has called a crisis meeting next week after two

consecutive dry winters have left water levels dangerously low.

The head of the senior civil servants union, Jonathan Baume, has

called on the government to end arrangements under which senior

officials can avoid paying some of their income tax. It follow reports

that the Department of Health was paying the salaries of 25 senior

staff direct to limited companies. There have been high level

negotiations between Jordan and Britain over the fate of the Muslim

extremist Abu Qatada this week. A British minister has now left the

Jordanian capital, Amman. The European Court has blocked Qatada's

deportation to Jordan to face terror charges. But today Prince

Hassan of Jordan questioned the European Court's right to lecture

his country about its legal standards. June Kelly reports.

Abu Qatada arriving back at his London home after being released

from prison. Since he went inside late on Monday night, he has not

emerged, although under his bail conditions, he is allowed out for

two hours every day. Thousands of miles away in a man, with the

diplomatic moves have been continuing, one of the most senior

members of the Royal Family was asked whether he would give the

assurance that evidence obtained by it torture would not be used

against Abu Qatada if he returned there -- in Jordan Foster of he has

never taken the lives of a political opponent of the regime.

If this man has committed crimes, which is presumably why he was

being held in England, I don't know what kind of court one has to offer

to the Europeans. Does he want the juvenile court? So no absolute

assurance. But even if there are absolute assurances, it will still

be a protracted process to get Abu Qatada up on an aeroplane. Even if

they reach an agreement, Jordan will have to change its laws and

any decision to deport Abu Qatada, he will no doubt challenge that

here. In north-west London, the media are waiting for a short of

the cleric called a danger to national security. We in the media

are banned from revealing any details about the area he lives.

His family only moved here recently and his lawyers are keen to protect

the privacy of his wife and children, who are still at school.

His battle with the authorities have gone on for more than a decade

and it appears that the Abu Qatada saga still has some way to run.

Our top story tonight: A first meeting with Alex Salmond over

rules for the independence referendum. David Cameron says

talks on more devolution would come Coming up: What's the name of the

directory that lists the names of the peerage? A study of old

fossils? Ronnie Corbett is awarded a CBE for services to entertainment

and charity. Record profits for car manufacturer GM in the United

States but � 9 billion lost in Europe over the last decade. And

high street banks are told to change or be changed.

In the week that UK unemployment rose again, it's emerged that up to

20,000 jobs are to be created inside prisons in England and Wales.

Prisoners would be paid below the minimum wage and some of their

earnings would go to help victims of crime. But critics say any new

jobs should go to hard-working people, not convicts. Our home

editor, Mark Easton, has been given exclusive details of how the new

system will work. For most prisoners life behind bars one of

enforced idleness, with just 24,000 workplaces in a prison estate

holding more than 85,000 people in England and Wales, the problem is

less to do with laziness and more to do with lack of opportunity.

The coalition Government however believes in the redemptive and

healing power of work. It has pledged to instil a regime of

honest labour behind bars, creating 20,000 full-time jobs inside

prisons by 2020. The industry of this inmate in a factory at

Coldingley jail in Surrey is held up as a model of what Ministers

want to do everywhere. This is a chance for all of us to be in this

together, if we can have the chance to work in prison and get

experience, perhaps we won't reoffend when we get out. Work is

clearly better than idleness for prisoners, but creating employment

for offenders when there is rising unemployment among law abiding

people pose as challenge for this Government. Ken Clarke has no

Government money to invest in jobs behind bars, so he is wooing

business to create and fund work inside prisons. You can run a

perfectly satisfactory commercial- type enterprise inside prison and

you can get a return out of it. carrot for them is access to a

captive and cheap labour force. Prisoners won't get the minimum

wage. There will be a contribution to crime victims, but bosses won't

have to worry about expensive employment rights. It is real work

that people are doing. It must not be an unfair competitor. It is

bound to be unfair because they are not paying the minimum wage - if

you think that, it does employ more to employ somebody in a prison.

This internet-based marketing firm turns over �30 million of business

a year but the staff are all prisoners, earning less �30 a week

and the office is inside the Wolds jail in Hull. If you wanted to make

a quick turn in a buck you wouldn't do a it in a prison. There's much

easier ways to make profit than undercutting a labour market.

Secondly, what we are looking for, and any businessman will tell you

they want well-moat vaited -- well- motivated people, and this what we

are able to produce. A few miles away Alex is looking for a job, a

graduate who was made redundant just before Christmas, what does he

think of giving work to convicts? When we are pulling jobs from the

public sector to people who haven't committed crimes and they are

putting jobs into prisons, that's 20,000 less jobs that people like

myself can apply for. There is broad agreement that making jails a

place of graft and toil is a good idea, but at a time of budget cuts

and soaring unemployment achieving that aim without causing resentment

will be difficult. A man found guilty of murdering an

elderly couple in Wolverhampton will serve at least 34 years in

jail. Lieneusz Bartnowski brutally attacked Giuseppe and Caterina

Massaro in their home last year. After killing them, he stole two

televisions and their car. Ben Ando reports. They were frail and

elderly and in the words of the judge they were in the sanctuary of

their own home. It was a case, he said, that had moved him almost to

tears, as the fear and pain that Giuseppe and Caterina Massaro had

suffered in their dying moments was, he said, almost unimaginable.

Giuseppe and Caterina Massaro came from Italy more than half a century

ago to find a better life in Britain. They made their home in a

terraced house in Wolverhampton. In April last year, they went shopping,

stocking up on provisions ready for a family Easter. But hours later

both were dead, murdered in their home by Polish drifter Lieneusz

Bartnowski, a man the judge called evil beyond belief. Their bodies

were found by their granddaughter. I touched them and they were cold.

That is something that a granddaughter should never have to

do. The couple were found lying side by side in a bedroom. The

attack was described as dreadful. Mr Massaro had been stabbed in the

head, the neck and the body. One wound was 14cms deep. His wife had

been stabbed in the neck and bled to death. The prosecutor said one

must have watched the other being attacked, and known the same would

happen to them. Lieneusz Bartnowski had ransacked

their home and taken two televisions and their Peugeot car.

He was jailed for life and will serve at least 34 years in prison.

Outside court Mr Massaro's sister said justice had been done. I've

lost two lovely people and they didn't deserve what was done to

them. That's all I can say. Some elderly members of the Massaro

family had travelled from Italy for the case, as too had the youngest,

seven-month-old twin great- grandchildren that cat cat and

Giuseppe Massaro did not live to see.

We should acknowledge I think the dignity of the Massaro family. It

was they who pointed out that this case has destroyed three lives not

just those of Giuseppe and Caterina but Lieneusz Bartnowski, who is 22

but will who will not be released until he is 56 years old, in 34

years' time. Back to you.

Doctors' leaders in Wales say a "slash and burn" approach is being

taken to making cuts to the Health Service. The Welsh NHS faces deeper

cuts than any other part of the UK, after a decision not to ring-fence

health spending. Our correspondent, Hywel Griffith, has been looking at

the concerns of one rural community in North Wales. From all walks of

life they came to protest. The people of Pwllheli are angry that a

ward at their local hospital has been shut until the end of the

financial year. Staff have been moved to a larger hospital over an

hour away. It is not fair the way they are doing the cuts. No more.

We've had enough. This is it. We pay our taxes and national

insurance the same as everybody else, so why should we get a

downgraded service? The hospital in Pwllheli is one of seven across

Wales which has had a temporary closer enforced until the end of

the financial year. The Welsh NHS is frantically trying to balance

its books, as it faces up to a deeper budget cut than any other

part of the UK. Health spending in England, Scotland and Northern

Ireland are all heading towards small real-terms increases of less

than 1%. In Wales, the NHS budget is set to shrink by 4% compared to

last year. Doctors warn cuts are being poorly planned. It has been

very much a bit of a panic situation really, brought about by

staff shortages. Original planning has gone by the board, so

effectively it has been as you described it a slash and burn

attitude to try to keep heads above water. Managers argue the changes

are to strengthton health service. The main issue here is patient

safety. We don't want to have our services spread too thinly around

the organisation, especially we are seeing excessive pressures due to

illness. The tensions in Wales have not gone unnoticed in Westminster.

The coalition accusing the Welsh Labour Government of failure.

we now what happens if you don't put in the money and you don't do

the reform, because there's one part of the NHS that is run by

Labour, and that is in Wales. Minister in charge in Wales says Mr

Cameron's health reforms are a shambles and says her NHS is well

funded. The health boards are given a huge amount of money to provide

health services for their local population and I expect them to

live within their means and come in on budget. The purse strings are

tightening across the NHS. Campaigners argue that shouldn't

mean closes wards. The administrators of Rangers

Football Club have said they are "wholly confident" that it won't

have to close, and revealed they've received several expressions of

interest in the club. Rangers went into administration on Tuesday

owing �9 million in PAYE and VAT payments. The administrators said

today that liquidation was unlikely, but there could be a cut in the

number of players. He's one half of the Two Ronnies, a

comedian who's cemented his role as a British institution. Ronnie

Corbett, already an OBE, was further honoured today with a CBE

for his services to entertainment and his charity work. Lizo Mzimba

reports from Buckingham Palace. For decades he's been one of the

best known faces on television. Good evening it's nice to be with

you again, isn't it Ronnie? Yes, it is. Today receiving a CBE from the

Queen he said it brought back memories of his famous on-screen

partner. I was last here probably about nearly 40 years ago with dear

Ronnie B when the two of us were honoured through our OBE, so it is

easy to remember touching times with Ron. Lovely to be here. He's

been recognised for two areas of his life, his charity work with

organisations like the RNLI and Comic Relief, as well as fizz long-

standing career as one of Britain's best-known and best-loved

entertainers. His TV career began close to half a century ago after

being spotted for David Frost's The Frost Report. It was the the

affection for his humour and the theory that the two of them would

have worked together well. double act with Ronnie Barker led

to one of TV's most successful pairings. Where else could you meet

so many fellas? We are just a pair of scrubbers who are grateful.

his own he was famed for his monologues. Ronnie Corbett is a

huge influence. For me he was one of the first comics to adapt his

stand-up to TV, in the way he delivered that monologue in a chair,

like he is talking to you. Now he can reflect on being honoured as

one of entertainment's most one of entertainment's most

enduring stars. Very confusing weather, because it

was cold last weekend. It is milder now. In fact in some places it felt

spring-like. 13 degrees in the east of Scotland. Come the weekend it

will be found to 5, with snow around. There'll be dampness

trickling southwards through Wales towards the West Country. No great

amounts. Damp and drizzly here. Where the skies are clear in north-

east England and Scotland we might see a touch of frost. Tomorrow a

mild day nationwide. This damp weather heads north, pushing

through parts of Northern Ireland, north-west England, in the

direction of western Scotland, where it takes all day to reach

eastern Scotland and north-east England. In any event from the

Midlands southwards it will stay generally dry, albeit cloudy

through the day. Temperatures if anything higher than today. 11-12

degrees in places. In the south- west of England the odd spot of

drizzle. There'll be lengthy dry spells. For Wales there'll be

dampness around. Journeying north, so rain for snow donia, crossing

the Irish Sea. There'll be rain in Northern Ireland and western

Scotland, for much of the afternoon. To the east of the mountains we'll

probably have protection so staying largely dry until late in the day.

Saturday, heavy rain pushing through England and Wales. That's

an important dividing line between the relatively mild conditions in

the south-east. Much colder conditions spreading into the north.

Despite the sunshine you will notice a chilly wind. Snow showers