02/11/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news: A

blow to SNP plans for a Greek energy economy. A major finance

group warns clients about investing in Scotland ahead of an

independence referendum. We ask why should such a vote make any

difference to international money- men?

Also, making the right moves, a new strategy to help the 50,000 Scots

and their families who are living with Asperger's and autism. Since I

have been diagnosed with Asperger's, I have started to learn a bit more

about why I am different. I have been able to hold down a job and go

to university. I have a wonderful family and two beautiful children.

And walk on down to the waterfront. Yes, billions of pounds have been

spent on the waterfronts in Scotland's cities. Join me later to

find out what it means for one of their own.

We will have the latest are a growing injury crisis at Celtic

Park ahead of tomorrow's Europa League match with friends.

An international finance group is warning its clients of the dangers

of investing in Scottish renewable energy projects ahead of a

referendum on independence. Citigroup says investors risks

seeing their assets stranded in an independent Scotland, but the First

Minister has insisted power produced in Scotland is a great

asset and not a liability. Here is our business correspondent David

Henderson. He wants Scotland to be the Saudi

Arabia of renewables and he is taking that message to the Middle

East. But will Alex Salmond's drive for independence and scare off

investors? The SNP Government sea wind, wave and tidal power as a

vast, untapped resource to be used to power Scotland and be exported

to other parts of Europe. But that will require a huge amount of

investment. Today, a major finance group warned that UK energy

subsidies might disappear if Scotland went independent, leaving

investors stranded. The future investment from now on they will be

concerned the subsidy that renewable power gets and paid for

by consumers in the UK K will be curtailed if Scotland separates.

That claim has been seized upon by the SNP's opponents. When it comes

to vital industries like green technology the combination of a

Green Investment Bank sponsored by the UK Government and the natural

advantages in Scotland can make this a great industry for people in

Scotland. Already, companies from around the world have invested in

Scotland's renewable energy. It has brought hundreds of millions of

pounds and thousands of jobs. recent times we have seen �750

million invested in renewable energy in Scotland and if investors

were scared away, that would not have happened. They have all known

of our plans for a referendum. Europe-wide demand for renewable

energy may undermine Citigroup's claims. It was right they

highlighted it, but what you have to look at in the wider perspective

is if the UK and Europe were to meet renewable energy targets, that

would be difficult without potentially cutting off a major

source of supply such as Scotland. The independence debate has created

tension between business and the SNP Government, but now the debate

is entering stormy waters. An estimated 50,000 people in

Scotland are living with autism, yet councils only recognise about

7500, and it is claimed to service provision is patchy. A strategy for

autism has been launched by the Government with �13 million to be

spent over the next four years. Campaigners have warned there is no

one size fits all solution. Good morning. Autism is a lifelong,

develop mental ability and affects people in different ways from

communicating to making sense of the world. Special support like

this can help young people flourish. Skills are challenging for people

with autism, based around communication and flexibility and

interaction and we work very closely with each other to ensure

we can provide the best opportunities for them.

services are patchy across the country. Many people live with

autism and recognise. Jennifer Hunter suffered a traumatic

adolescence, having struggled through childhood, being picked on.

Growing up and being in school and having difficulties, but not

knowing what their work was very difficult. It was difficult to be

different from the other children. It was difficult to be singled out,

excluded by teachers. Diagnosed in her twenties, she has managed to

transform her life with the support of this drop-in centre. As an order

teenager I experience was reasonably traumatic, but since I

have been diagnosed with Asperger's, I have started to learn a bit more

about why I am different. I have been able to hold down a job, go to

university, I have a wonderful family and two beautiful children.

Campaigners insist that funding is a wise investment if society is to

tackle wider problems. People with Asperger's who are most likely to

perhaps get into the criminal justice system or mental health

problems, and family enough it is the area where people need the

least support who are the most expensive for the state when things

go wrong with their lives. Whilst the local and national Government

strategy see it as a positive step, campaigners warn of more needs to

be done to set up a system which supports all kinds of autism for

all stages of life. An elderly lady who was killed at a

sheltered housing complex in Edinburgh at the weekend has been

named. 74 year-old Rosina Sutherland's body was found by a

relative at her home in Longstone Park on Sunday. 25 year-old Kevin

Rooney from Edinburgh has been charged with her murder.

You are watching Reporting Scotland, still to come: Very dangerous, that

is how Scotland's largest mosque describes proposals for same-sex

marriage as they write a letter of opposition to Alex Salmond.

He is one of Scotland's most famous figures who is just about to appear,

but do you know of his face is on the new �50 an hour?

Celtic face an injury crisis ahead of tomorrow's Europa League crisis,

and Hearts players are still waiting to be paid and now their

union will make a formal complaint to the Premier League.

Scotland's largest mosque has condemned the Government's

proposals for same-sex marriage, describing the legislation as

dangerous. In a letter to the First Minister, the mosque's President

says such relationships cannot produce children, so cannot be

called marriages. Glasgow's Central Mosque, now a

familiar part of the City's skyline. It has around 2000 members, making

it the largest in Scotland and the most influential. Its president has

written to the First Minister to detail the opposition of the Muslim

community to the Government's proposals for gay marriage. The

mosques spokesman explained their objections. No religion allows

marriage between people of the same sex. Certainly, the main purpose of

marriage is the union of a man and a wife and procreation, the

continuation of society. In marriage between same-sex people

they cannot do that, they cannot perform that purpose. In the letter

the legislation is referred to as very dangerous and it would further

encourage homosexuality and increase the number of same-sex

marriages. They ask what would become of our society? What would

become of the SNP's relationship with the Muslim community and the

Roman Catholic Church? Professor James Mitchell noted that in May's

elections more Catholics voted for the SNP than any other party.

SNP must have known the Catholic Church would take a very strong

line on this, but they have calculated it is worth doing none

the less. It is conceivable they may lose some support, but the fact

that senior hierarchy of the Catholic Church is saying they do

not want a marriage does not mean that they will stop voting SNP.

There was a meeting about the proposals at the central mosque

earlier this week. The reason why Muslims in particular might vote

for the SNP is for the policies to do with the council tax, education,

business. They do not look towards them for theological guidance. That

is not the reasons why we vote for the SNP. Meanwhile, some small

faith groups have proclaim support for gay marriage and the Church of

Scotland is still to respond. The consultation period ends next month.

Let's go to Holyrood and our political editor. This is not a

surprise stance from the mosque, but how damaging is it for the

SNP's plans? It adds to the pressure and disquiet that is felt

among a number of MSPs and even among a number of ministers. But

the Scottish Government is said it is minded to move towards this, but

it is consulting widely across the people of Scotland and no final

decision has been taken. I am sure the views of the mosque, the Roman

Catholic community will be taken into account. The if we can go back

to the main story, the warning from Citigroup over investing here ahead

of a referendum on independence, Alex Salmond brushed it off, but he

could have done without it. It is a substantive challenge from a

serious player in the world of finance. It is the beginning of a

campaign from those of a unionist persuasion. They are mounting a

campaign against independence. It is about confidence. The Citigroup

report is saying investors could not be confident in an independent

Scotland and could not be confident in the process. They say

difficulties are created by the referendum purse say. SNP ministers

are saying companies are demonstrating confidence in

Scotland right now. They know there is a referendum spending and they

believe Scotland can be confident in the longer term. Energy

resources will be required across the UK and Europe. The volume of

retail sales in Scotland fell by 0.3% between July and September,

but grew by 0.5% over the year. The figures released also show that in

the same quarter of the value of sales grew by more than 0.5% and by

more than 3% over the year. Rangers is facing further court

action from a company pursuing an allegedly unpaid bill. Capita

Trustee Services, which provides pensions services to employers, is

taking the football club to court next Monday seeking payment for

what it calls a straightforward commercial debt for advisory

services rendered. Rangers has face court action by creditors and by

two former club executives. It has declined to comment.

A conference has heard that the regeneration of waterfronts in

Scotland's cities has attracted more than �4 billion of investments.

The Clyde has been the biggest winner with a redevelopment along a

30 mile stretch from Glasgow Green to Dumbarton Rock. But the Tay has

also benefited. The latest project, the V and a museum, is due to open

in 2015. Our reporter is on the Tay waterfront in Dundee for us tonight.

This is a familiar sight, the ship Discovery. The waterfront is about

to undergo a major regeneration. The idea is to connect the city

centre with the repair, a river which over the centuries has played

such a pivotal part in Dundee's story. They were split apart in the

Sixties when the road network was built to get traffic on and off

with the new Tay Bridge. The regeneration project is costed at

�1 billion. They told us today they have already secured one third of

that and have started spending it. What do you get for a �1 billion?

Is an omission shows how planners think Dundee waterfront will look

in the years ahead with new civic spaces, office buildings and the

V&A museum. It is due to open early in 2015. It is an iconic building

housing aid centre for contemporary design. It will go over there on

that side currently occupied by a leisure centre. It is due to come

down late next year. Also set to disappear, Dundee's most unloved

building. Tayside House, a tower block which until recently was home

to the city council. You can see how the work around here has

started to get under way in earnest. This is Scotland's second biggest

regeneration project. Those behind it believe it will attract new

investment to the city, a city which has faced such economic

problems and industrial decline over the past 20 years. This is a

30 year project which will certainly change at Dundee's

waterfront and it is hoped it will Off some of the other stories

across Scotland this Wednesday. A taxi driver who was accused of

lying that a teenager had been murdered has had his case dropped.

John Ross was alleged to have told police that he had taken who he

believed to be 19 year-old Dean Geary and two other men from

Glasgow to the Drymen area of Stirlingshire, where one of the men

assaulted Mr Deery. It transpired the teenager had in fact been

accidentally hit by a car. The case, at Stirling Sheriff Court, was

dropped because a key witness was unavailable due to ill health.

Seven people needed hospital treatment in Edinburgh after they

were rescued from a burning building overnight.

They were suffering from smoke inhalation. A total of 13 people

were cleared from the four-storey building at Waters Close in Leith.

More than 30 firefighters were involved in bringing the fire under

control. The Royal Navy's nuclear reactor

test site in Caithness is to be scaled down or closed by 2015. The

site is within the Dounreay nuclear complex. The MoD says computer

modelling and confidence in new reactors means testing at the

Vulcan plant is no longer necessary. He is probably one of Scotland's

best-known scientific figures and his name is used as a unit of

energy, now efface of James Watt appears on the new 50 pound note

which came into circulation today. -- now the face of. How important

was he to the Industrial revelation? Do you know this face?

He is a man whose steam engine transform the world we live in. He

now plays a starring role in the Bank of England's new 50 pound note

says. If you're lucky not to possess one of these, take a look

at the back. One of the faces his James Watt from Greenock. Why is he

on the back of the 50 pound note? Who better to tell us than the man

whose signature shows on the note. He believes James Watt and his

business partner William -- and Matthew Bolton are a fitting icons

for this time.. The show was about the value of collaboration between

an innovator and an entrepreneur and the value that can bring to the

economy. James Watt's improvements to the steam-engine made him one of

the fathers of the Industrial Revolution. He came up with the

idea while working at Glasgow University, where they regard him

as an inspiration for students. managed to achieve a lot in terms

of technical excellence and he managed to make a lot of money out

of his invention and this is something which is an inspiration

for Glasgow you have NC -- Was a university. We continue to try and

do the same. He and his home town of green that everyone knows James

Watt, but can the pit the face to the name. Any guesses who that

might be? No off. Rab C Nesbitt? is the only person from Greenock

you can put on Monday. I guess someone from their head of the bank

back then? Someone from Green that. James Watt! How embarrassing.

fair, he has been dead for more than 200 years. Perhaps he will

apply his magic touch to the economy from beyond the grave.

A new exhibition showcasing one of the most influential books in

English language has opened in Edinburgh. An original copy of the

King James Bible is the centrepiece of the display at the National

Library of Scotland. The text is one of 3,000 published 400 years

ago and was donated by collector from Fife.

To sport now and continued controversy at Hearts.

Indeed so and one former Hearts captain has told BBC Scotland the

current player should consider strike action in a bid to get paid.

The SPL is now ready to intervene after the players' union indicated

it would make a formal complaint. Some players have not been paid for

two weeks. Their wages may not have turned up

but the players showed up for training, publicly professional but

privately fuming. Now the union will launch an official complaint.

The consent to go on strike and not play. It is a serious issue for the

club. I remember they happened with Hamilton a few years ago, they

decided to strike and got demoted to the Third Division. It is a

possibility, and I have to think -- feel for the players. It is my

understanding that their international league is beginning

to be in patients and me diverts cash for the club straight into the

pocket of the players. This player -- this man delivered another rant

last night. He described the game What can be read into the latest

outburst? Is there more to it than ranting? This media adviser knows

just how it frustrated he can become. The is is one of the ways

he believes that frustration by coming out with the statements he

says across. The more worrying element is the final line where he

is beginning to suggest that he might not want to spend money on

the club any more. Why would that be? A lot of questions me to be

answered on that. Back home he is building a basketball empire and

there are fears his focus might be elsewhere. Ever the showman, never

boring, he is once again the focus of attention, but this time his

players are preparing to take him Neil Lennon says there has been no

behind the scenes bus-stop between him and Kris Commons. That is Kris

Commons there behind me heavily disguised. There were rumours that

the pair came to blows but these were laughed off today. Celtic won

her Kris Commons bandaged up in a jokey reference to rumours that he

had come off worse end an encounter with Neil Lennon. No truth to the

and er says Neil Lennon. I cannot do anything to rumours on websites

are talk shows. There never has been a problem with me and Chris

Coleman. I'm bored of repeating that. He is a wonderful player and

I get on well with him. -- Chris Commons. With bandages all the rage,

fitting that Celtic have a hit list of injuries prior to a game

tomorrow night. There South Korean midfielder is a doubt and defender

Mark Wilson was seeing a specialist today about and the injury. With

just two wins in the last seven games, Neil Lennon is under

pressure. It is a huge club and their huge expectations which we're

not living up to. I know we're capable of turning that around very

quickly. I know we can win games and a consistent basis because we

had done that before. They're just missing that little in the Dean and

once we find it we will be fine. points behind Rangers, their season

is in need of resuscitation. Neil Lennon will be hoping a lengthy

sick list will not lead to a further decline in the condition of

the page and -- patient. St Johnstone will reveal who is

going to be their new manager tomorrow. The club have called a

news conference for 9:30am. BBC Scotland expects the new boss to be

this man - he is a former Northern Ireland captain Steve Lomas. Steve

Lomas was previously reserve-team manager at West Ham United.

Glasgow City's chances of reaching the last eight of the woman's

Champions' League for the first time are looking pretty slim. They

lost 10 nil in the first leg of their quarter-final against Potsdam

in Germany this afternoon. Mind you, Potsdam were runners up last season

and won the tournament two years ago.

Andy Murray has pulled out of the Swiss indoor tournament he is due

to be playing in. The world No. 3 was due to take on Holland's Robin

Haase this afternoon but withdrew from the event with a minor gluteal

sprain. Or to you and me, a pain in the backside. Something you

sometimes refer to me as! Let us get the weather now. Hello

Let us get the weather now. Hello there, another lovely day across

most parts of the country. Plenty of dry weather around, but tonight

the rain arrives, pitching in from the West. Some of it will be heavy.

This evening remains dry but during the small Iowa's that rain will

make its way end with their heaviest across the south-west.

Coupled with the wind, it will be a mild night. There is the rain - it

is still with us tomorrow morning. This weather front pushes it into.

It will be a wet start tomorrow morning, especially in the Central

Belt. As we go through the morning, that rain will move northwards

quickly. Behind it we will have drier and brighter conditions.

Still a windy day, although the wind will not be as strong as today.

Mid-afternoon, we will still have mild beer but we will start to see

heavy showers developing in the West. One or two bright spells, we

could see highs of 16 in the Moray Firth region. The rain will roll --

the rain will linger for a while. Enter the evening in those showers

gather in the west, some of the Risk of Thunder. Another wet night

to come. The rain will be confined to Shetland on Friday. You will be

unlucky if you catch a shower. Some brightness mixed in as well. We

still think it will be a dry and bright weekend across the whole of

the country. If we look at the pressure charts - we can see this

area of low pressure bringing the south-east rain and high winds. But

we expect this range of pressure to build across Ireland and Scotland

bringing dry and settled conditions. It looks good for Saturday and

It looks good for Saturday and Sunday at the moment.

Now for a summary of the main stories: The UK Government has made

a new offer in its plans for reform for the public sector. Workers

retiring in the next 10 years would be protected, the pensions would

grow more quickly but staff would still have to pay higher

contributions and many will have to work longer.

Citigroup is warning its clients of the dangers of investing in

Scottish renewable energy projects ahead of a referendum on

independence. Is said investors risk seeing their assets stranded

in an independent Scotland. The First Minister says power produced

here is a great asset. The German Chancellor says the

years on plan to save peace from bankruptcy is not up for

renegotiation. She and President Sarkosy of France will hold an