26/02/2014 Newsnight Scotland

the sun. Even the Chinese, who have destroyed the nature in more ways

than others... Bear still reliant. Tonight on Newsnight Scotland: Big

business gives its view on independence. Would a currency union

leave Scotland done up "tighter than a kipper"? Or is an economic policy

set for the south-east of England damaging businesses here?

And, will this soon be a scene from the past, or can the internet save

the Scottish newspaper industry? Good evening. Well you wouldn't

exactly expect the grandson of Winston Churchill to be backing the

Yes campaign. But Rupert Soames, the boss of Aggreko, told MSPs today

that a currency union would leave an independent Scotland with no room

for maneouvre. But other business leaders disagree, and even some of

those who back 'no' are calling for full fiscal powers. Graham Stewart

reports. This is Aggreko based in Dumbarton. It makes generators for

locations all over the world. It was said that a sterling zone after

independence would mean titre controls for Scotland. It is far too

believe that it would be sensible controls for Scotland. It is far too

for the rest of the UK to enter into a currency union for Scotland

without Scotland being tied up tighter than a kipper. Another boss

warned that projects had to be put on ice as a referendum left

investors uncertain. It creates concern. It certainly has put a few

projects that I am looking at on hold for the time being. He said

that he had asked the Better Together campaign to give more tax

powers for Hollywood without success. It together say that is for

individual parties. This company as another Scottish one on the global

stage. Its boss backs a yes vote and says a currency union makes sense

and would still leave plenty for an independent Scotland to do. It gives

you plenty of freedom to have the flexibility and define fiscal

policies that would attract businesses to Scotland. This

property developer also said that some firms resent change and are

making excuses. It said Scotland had a good track record and has not

encountered uncertainty. I need these guys day-to-day in the pub...

I do not see a great deal of concern. There was no report from

today's ceiling. That is because MSP 's are just as divided as they are.

I'm joined in the studio by the chief executive of pro-independence

group, Business for Scotland, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, and from

group, Business for Scotland, Gordon Together. Gordon, before we get onto

the general issues... There have been reports in some of the

newspapers over the past few days that Standard Life may be about to

say it considers independence has great risk. They are making an

announcement in the morning. They are suggesting that they may even

leave Scotland if there is a yes fault. That must be worrying? -- Yes

vote. That was worrying before the pre-devolution referendum as well.

Lots of businesses said that as well. We have heard it all before. I

believe that Standard Life were one of the ones to leave. There was a

poll in the Scotland on Sunday in 1997 that said 76% of big businesses

got a yes vote for devolution would damage the economy. We were told

that businesses would leave them. They did not. Everybody almost

universally agrees that devolution has been good for business. If they

do say that they say great risk, you would see this as another version of

lustre? -- bluster? They may come to decisions along those lines. It

would not be a clever decision. It would cost a lot of money. I do not

think it would work for them. I am disappointed that Gordon is so

complacent about one of the biggest employers in my constituency

potentially threatening to leave. It will be interesting to see what

potentially threatening to leave. It say as well. RBS... I am right in

saying... They would adapt? We are speculating. It is quite clear,

Standard Life have 98% of customers in England. They cannot sustain

being in Scotland with the different currency. Hang on... The specific

body that Standard Life have... Love our tax exemptions on pensions in

the UK. That seems to be what is worrying them. The Scottish

Government says they are would be but they are not sure. What we are

talking about, it is quite interesting. All of the uncertainty

has been created by the Westminster government as a political manoeuvre

to try to win the referendum. If the UK Government says that the Scottish

people need to know precisely what is happening on currency then should

they not be letting businesses now as well. There is uncertainty over

the EU according to them. Scotland is likely to vote to stay in, the

rest of the UK is likely to see now. -- say no. That is uncertainty with

a no vote as well. -- There is. We had the chief executive of the

Scottish enterprise here today and he employs hundreds of thousands of

people directly and indirectly. He said there was no certainty. Those

are the facts coming from the professionals. I would rather listen

to them. You are reeling off statistics that make no sense. From

a business point of view, whatever the reasons are for the three main

Unionist parties taking this position on currency, from the point

of view of businesses would it not be rather better if a door was left

open for negotiation? If that were the case... Y slammed the door? --

Why slam the door? It hasn't been slammed in that case. Nonpartisan

analysis has taken place. They have said that the SNP have essentially

ruled out using the Euro. Then have the same concerns that the UK

Government have about that. I would say to you that I hear what you are

saying. But as a business it would suit us in Scotland if the door was

not being slams shut. -- slammed shut. I don't accept what you are

saying. If it is not in the interest of the rest of the United Kingdom,

this is an issue for Scotland. of the rest of the United Kingdom,

would not go into a currency union... That is not true.

Businesses in England, Scotland decide to leave the United Kingdom

then they should not fit the bill. -- foot the bill. As somebody on the

yes side, surely the business community in Scotland would like the

Scottish Government to see what it would do if it can't get this

currency union? If I were a business I would say you may well be right. I

accept all of that. The bottom line is that if you go for independence

then I want to know what happens. I want to know what planning you are

doing right now for that eventuality.

There are several options for currency that could be made to work

for Scotland. They cannot all be made to work for our friends and

neighbours in the rest of the UK as well. You think having a separate

currency would be perfectly workable? That is potentially one of

many options that could work. Would you not like to see some planning

being done on that? For example, if Scotland has its own central bank

and sets up a scheme to put into deposits, but if it is? I genuinely

believe we will have a currency union. Let me explain why. Ian

Murray mentioned that English people are not happy with things. There is

a huge issue are not happy with things. There is

not get a fair share of the assets but takes its fair share of the

debt, but takes its fair share of the

international law, if we do not get the assets there is a risk of taking

on the debt but the debt to GDP ratio that the rest of the UK would

have, English mortgage payers could ever have that are having higher

mortgages as a direct result. Thank you both very much.

Circulation is down yet again for Scottish newspapers - the public's

supposed thirst for knowledge about the independence debate doesn't seem

to stretch to buying a paper. But it may be what has seen them flocking

to the websites of both The Herald and the Scotsman. Internet traffic

is up. Does this mean it's the death knell for the printed word? Suzanne

Allan reports. They have kept us abreast of events

from weddings to words, from boom to bust for centuries. Papers were how

we got our news. But then the modern world is digital. Circulation

figures for newspapers have been falling for years, today's figures

are no different. All many city -based newspapers have continued to

fall. The Scotsman is down 6% at the beginning of the year to below

30,000 copies. The Herald was down 10% on the previous year at 39,000.

A smaller amount for the Courier in Dundee, 5%. Is this the end of the

printed edition of newspapers or can they survive? Yes, they can thrive

but I think one of the measurements in terms of print styles and it is a

bit of a misnomer these days because print sales have been going down for

the last 30 years, but what is not properly recognised is that this

online audience is increasing rapidly.

Although, maybe not quite like this, not so long ago, a lot of us would

have had our papers delivered in the morning. But has technology use up

to us? It used to be when you picked up a paper in the morning, this was

the first you had heard of the news, these days you can access it from

the minute you wake up. On this, or on this, or on this. A mobile device

that lets you access headlines from around the world any time, the

ornate. Although a doomsday scenario has long been predicted, it seems

that online could be the saviour. Online readership is on the up. The

Scotsman has 2.6 million readers, that was in December. Up 41%. The

Herald has 1.6 million readers each month, up 66% in one year. Online

revenues continue to grow and the profits of The Herald, 40% of those

profits came from online. There is a business model, there is light at

the end of the tunnel. I feel somewhat dismayed sometimes when

people only focus on print sales and then you get the doom mongers saying

that the newspapers are finished and the ball disappeared.

Smartphone and have just continues to rise steeply. I do digital or

print? Opinion across Scotland was mixed. I just like to read the

paper. mixed. I just like to read the

and read the paper. mixed. I just like to read the

bit additional! I never got to the bother of buying newspapers, I have

the Internet on my phone so it is easier.

This academic swims against the tide of popular opinion. He says that

print will survive. We are talking about two things, hard copy and

online. I believe, and this is unusual, I believe that hard copy

will bottom out and battle and will survive into the foreseeable future,

and I believe that online will, as it is beginning to show, signs of

flourish. We will have parallel publishing with print and online

formats both competing. For many there is nothing like having

something physically in your hand. Alex Stubb believes this is why

magazines are doing so well. The men's magazines, the women's

magazines, specialist magazines, they all continue to flourish. So

newspapers can flourish. Who reads at length online? You flit from one

site to another. It is the butterfly effect. It is good news for certain

newspapers. The likes of Irbin Times are bucking the trend.

I'm joined from Edinburgh by the director of the Scottish Newspaper

Society, John McLellan. John, this is marvellous that these new

newspapers are getting broader audiences than they ever had before

online, but the real issue for newspapers is whether they can make

any money out of it? That is correct. I think newspaper companies

up correct. I think newspaper companies

money. There are ongoing issues with the transitional period we are in

just now where online sales are going up and print sales are

dropping. But I your thumb pointed out, there will be a point that the

tool # the two will meet at a more stable business model will arrive.

As there a stable and serve anywhere of a newspaper that is making

serious money with the subscriber model online? Does the New York

Times make any serious money out of it? I do not have figures to hand

but there are examples of models that are attracting readers and

growing numbers, the likes of News UK, the sun is proving a popular

digital vehicle because it has invested and its football coverage

-- the Son. The game of any businesses as no different to that

of newspapers. It is about providing people with what they want, how they

want it, at a price they are willing to pay. Because we are going through

these fast changing times, businesses are trying to work out

what the correct balance is. It is providing the correct content and

that will remain key. Do you think there is a future for newspapers in

a different sense. One of the things about the Internet is that people

can use a search engine and that will take them to what they want to

read, so they are accessing material and newspapers in that way, rather

than thinking about wanting to read the Scotsman, The Herald, the Times

or the Guardian and going to their sites, is that a threat to the

branding of newspapers? It is not a threat, but it is certainly a

challenge. The idea must be to find effective ways to market what you

have as it has always been and that is the only way that traditional

brands can market themselves. Rebranding could be key to future

success. We will have to leave it there for the moment.

Now a quick look at tomorrow's front pages. The Scotsman, it leads on the

case of Lee Rigby. It says there were scuffles in court as the

killers were led to the dog. The Co-op also selling off farms after

losses. -- led to the dog. The victim of Lynda Spence. The

Telegraph, EU will help to heal our divisions, says Angela Merkel.

Goodbye. Things turning wet and windy

overnight. That wind across England tomorrow morning. Brighter skies

will follow with sunny spells but also showers. More showers than we

saw today. Particularly for Wales and the Southern counties of

England. Showers for Scotland with snow on the hills, a wet afternoon

for Shetland. Much of Eastern England will brighten up nicely. One

or two afternoon showers. There should be plenty of sunshine after

that line disappears. Some showers for the South East. More showers and

we saw today. for the South East. More showers and

could be heavy, possibly thundery,