0:00:12 > 0:00:17Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight: looking to Scotland's
0:00:17 > 0:00:21future on Burns Day. Alex Salmond launches his consultation on an
0:00:21 > 0:00:26independence referendum and tells us what the question will be.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?
0:00:31 > 0:00:35The First Minister says it much -- it will be the most important
0:00:35 > 0:00:45decision in 300 years of Scottish history. We will be gauging what
0:00:45 > 0:00:51you think and for some the debate is already under way. I do not
0:00:51 > 0:00:58think he will lose it. I think he We will also be looking at the key
0:00:58 > 0:01:01policy areas. Also in the programme: Scots
0:01:01 > 0:01:07celebrate the birthday of our national bard with events across
0:01:07 > 0:01:11the country and abroad. And Andy money it storms into the
0:01:11 > 0:01:17semi-finals of the Australian Open and now faces Novak Djokovic in a
0:01:17 > 0:01:21re-run of last year's final. Do you agree that Scotland should
0:01:21 > 0:01:25be an independent country? That is the wording of the question that
0:01:25 > 0:01:30Alex Salmond want to ask the Scottish people in a referendum in
0:01:30 > 0:01:36the autumn of 2014. He described it as straightforward but the most
0:01:36 > 0:01:41important question in 300 years. He chose Burns Day to launch his plans
0:01:41 > 0:01:46for a consultation on the referendum. The Scottish Government
0:01:46 > 0:01:51still cannot agree with Westminster over when it should be held, what
0:01:51 > 0:01:57questions should be asked and who should be allowed to vote. We will
0:01:57 > 0:02:02hear from our political editor. But first, a report on the day's events
0:02:02 > 0:02:07in Edinburgh. A big smile from Alex Salmond.
0:02:07 > 0:02:15Little wonder, it is the closest he has ever been to a vote on Scotland
0:02:15 > 0:02:20becoming independent. With the future uppermost in his
0:02:20 > 0:02:23mind, there is still time to celebrate the past. The First
0:02:23 > 0:02:31Minister had promised these youngsters a school trip to learn
0:02:31 > 0:02:38about the nation's most famous poet. Then, the serious business. The
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Scottish Government's proposals for a referendum in 2014.
0:02:42 > 0:02:52The people of Scotland elected at a majority pro-independence
0:02:52 > 0:02:52
0:02:52 > 0:02:57government. A democratic decision will be made by the people of
0:02:57 > 0:03:02Scotland. A consultation paper reveals the
0:03:02 > 0:03:07question that he wants to put to voters.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13Sadly, this consultation paper has done little for those who feel this
0:03:13 > 0:03:17process is not fair. The First Minister asserts as truth his own
0:03:17 > 0:03:23view Alfa -- due of the future of Scotland and misrepresents the
0:03:23 > 0:03:28position of those who want to remain in the United Kingdom.
0:03:28 > 0:03:37The chef is preparing a haggis for the Burns Supper at Holyrood while
0:03:37 > 0:03:42the politicians continue to debate. Today was more Shakespeare than
0:03:43 > 0:03:48burns. It was much ado about nothing. We are looking forward to
0:03:48 > 0:03:52finding out what questions we have on the ballot paper. There is a
0:03:52 > 0:03:56serious problem with proposing a second question and it being
0:03:57 > 0:04:03treated as a second-class question. We need a straightforward yes or no
0:04:03 > 0:04:09question. They have not said where they stand
0:04:09 > 0:04:13on any of the major issues. We want to sit down with the Scottish
0:04:13 > 0:04:18Government and see if we can make sure we have a legal, decisive and
0:04:18 > 0:04:23fair referendum for the people of Scotland. In the Great Hall at
0:04:23 > 0:04:28Edinburgh Castle, Mr Salmond has been explaining his plans to the
0:04:28 > 0:04:35world's media. He has threatened to go ahead with the referendum if the
0:04:35 > 0:04:37two government to not agree. It is perhaps not surprising that
0:04:37 > 0:04:43the Scottish Government tours the country's most famous ancient
0:04:43 > 0:04:48monument to launch it sped for an independent Scotland. There is a
0:04:48 > 0:04:52lot of negotiation still to be done between man and 2014. If Mr
0:04:52 > 0:04:58Salmon's get his way, it is possible the Scottish Parliament
0:04:58 > 0:05:03there will be the headquarters of an independent Scottish nation.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09We know the First Minister's plans. Yvette -- a vote could come in
0:05:09 > 0:05:15autumn 2014, or sooner. Our correspondent was in St Andrews
0:05:15 > 0:05:21today. That is the First Minister
0:05:21 > 0:05:23unveiling his plans. We have a small audience here in St Andrews,
0:05:23 > 0:05:29listening to report the First Minister is saying and it has
0:05:29 > 0:05:34already sparked debate. We will ask them for their pots. It is a good
0:05:34 > 0:05:44question, straightforward, definitive, there can be no mistake
0:05:44 > 0:05:50in your response. He has handled some awkward questions well.
0:05:50 > 0:05:58will not get closer by splitting up. We will lose the benefits by
0:05:58 > 0:06:02separating. But we should just get on with it. Alex Salmond does
0:06:02 > 0:06:08Scotland no favours by mentioning all of these new people that have
0:06:08 > 0:06:14entered the year. Most of those, I think, where from the old Soviet
0:06:14 > 0:06:18bloc. I remembered the Queen saying she was crowned as the Queen of the
0:06:18 > 0:06:23United Kingdom and I think it would be a very sad day for her and asked
0:06:23 > 0:06:27if the union splits. I have grown up on both sides of the border and
0:06:27 > 0:06:33have always considered myself to be British. But he came across very
0:06:34 > 0:06:39well. I think Scottish young people should be able to vote, from the
0:06:39 > 0:06:43age of 16, it is their future. Those are the views of our audience
0:06:43 > 0:06:48here in St Andrews on the referendum debate. To report extent
0:06:48 > 0:06:58they are shared by the population should become clearer in the coming
0:06:58 > 0:07:00
0:07:00 > 0:07:09months as the debate heats up. The focus now move to what the SNP
0:07:09 > 0:07:13wants an independent Scotland to look like.
0:07:13 > 0:07:19A referendum on independence raises many challenging questions, not
0:07:19 > 0:07:24least, and an independent Scotland would defend itself. This is
0:07:24 > 0:07:30Faslane Naval Base, home to much of our surface fleet, and to our
0:07:30 > 0:07:36nuclear submarines. In that said, the submarine is being worked on.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40When its sales, it will contain Trident nuclear missiles. An
0:07:40 > 0:07:46independent Scotland would not have the British Navy, Royal Air Force
0:07:46 > 0:07:50and British Army. Instead it would have a Scottish defence force. The
0:07:50 > 0:07:56SNP says there is no place on Scottish soil for at nuclear
0:07:56 > 0:08:00deterrent. So the future of the space would probably be decided by
0:08:00 > 0:08:10a referendum. This is Glasgow fish market, dozens
0:08:10 > 0:08:11
0:08:11 > 0:08:18of different types of fish are brought here and sold. But who
0:08:18 > 0:08:22decides how much fish is caught? Every year, quotas are set by the
0:08:22 > 0:08:26European Union after negotiations with the UK Government. The
0:08:26 > 0:08:33Scottish Government takes part, and offer advice, but it is often not
0:08:33 > 0:08:38taken. Voters will decide who is really at the helm.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42This is the Erskine Bridge. A few years ago, the Scottish Government
0:08:43 > 0:08:46scrapped the tolls for motorists crossing this bridge. An
0:08:47 > 0:08:53independent Scotland would have complete control over taxation and
0:08:53 > 0:08:58spending. It would control income tax rates, corporation tax and all
0:08:58 > 0:09:03the revenue from oral and gas in -- while and gas installations in the
0:09:03 > 0:09:09North Sea. But every pound that is spent would be a pound that has to
0:09:09 > 0:09:15be raised. If I bought something in a Scottish
0:09:15 > 0:09:21shop, I would have to pay in pounds Stirling. But that night -- might
0:09:21 > 0:09:25not remain at the case for long after independence. The SNP's
0:09:25 > 0:09:30policy is for an independent Scotland to remain part of Stirling
0:09:30 > 0:09:34until it is advantageous for us to join the euro.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39That would mean interest rates being set, not by the Bank of
0:09:39 > 0:09:45England but by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. That might
0:09:45 > 0:09:53benefit the Scots economy and Scott homeowners but it might not. There
0:09:53 > 0:09:58is a lot to talk about. Our political editor Jones us from
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Holyrood. What is your assessment of where we are? There is a degree
0:10:03 > 0:10:10of uncertainty hedging around the rules and regulations, let alone
0:10:10 > 0:10:20the outcome of a referendum. People might be inclined to gloat Walter's
0:10:20 > 0:10:24
0:10:24 > 0:10:34got, what a tangled web we weave. I think he is absolutely fixed on
0:10:34 > 0:10:34
0:10:34 > 0:10:38autumn 2014. I do not think he will be moved on that. Further, the
0:10:38 > 0:10:47question of whether 16 and 17-year- olds should be allowed to vote. Mr
0:10:47 > 0:10:53Salmond is keen. What about this idea of a second question? What is
0:10:54 > 0:10:58his strategy for that? This is one of the core issues here between the
0:10:58 > 0:11:03Scottish Government and the UK Government. Mr Salmond has advanced
0:11:03 > 0:11:09a single question on independence but if he wants that form of simple
0:11:09 > 0:11:19question, he needs further powers transferred from Westminster to
0:11:19 > 0:11:26make that ballot of lawful. He is known to like the idea of a second
0:11:26 > 0:11:30question, but the UK Government says absolutely not. In turn for Mr
0:11:30 > 0:11:35Sam and getting the legal background he needs for that simple
0:11:35 > 0:11:40question on independence, will be perhaps concede the UK position
0:11:40 > 0:11:44that there will not be a second question? In which case, Mr Salmond
0:11:44 > 0:11:48might argue on a campaigning business that he wanted that on the
0:11:49 > 0:11:58ballot paper but his political rivals prevented it from happening.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02
0:12:02 > 0:12:09It could be used in the referendum. We have a long way to cope. I think
0:12:09 > 0:12:12we are agreed on that. We cross now to our correspondent who has
0:12:12 > 0:12:17details of a special programme on BBC Scotland tonight.
0:12:17 > 0:12:26I will be here to ask the questions with help from a studio audience of
0:12:26 > 0:12:31more than 200 members of the public. To provide the answers, our panel
0:12:31 > 0:12:41includes the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Lord Jim Wallace,
0:12:41 > 0:12:42
0:12:42 > 0:12:47and to one Lamond, and writer and You're watching Reporting Scotland
0:12:47 > 0:12:50from the BBC. Still to come on the programme:
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Scots celebrate the birthday of our national bard with events across
0:12:55 > 0:12:58the country and abroad. In sport:
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Andy Murray's through to the semi finals of the Australian Open. We
0:13:01 > 0:13:03will be hearing from the world number four in Australia.
0:13:03 > 0:13:11And Rangers get a multi-million offer for their prized asset.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Details a little later. A teenager accused of murdering a
0:13:14 > 0:13:16fellow school pupil was nowhere near the threshold of someone
0:13:16 > 0:13:21suffering from a personality disorder, according to a
0:13:21 > 0:13:26psychiatrist who assessed him. Craig Roy has admitted killing but
0:13:26 > 0:13:32denies murdering Jack Frew in East Kilbride in 2010. Reevel Alderson
0:13:32 > 0:13:38reports from the High Court in Glasgow.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Arriving with his mother and sister, 19-year-old Craig Roy is accused of
0:13:42 > 0:13:46murdering his schoolmate at Jack Frew in East Kilbride. Jurors heard
0:13:46 > 0:13:51from a series of forensic psychiatrist. When interviewed
0:13:51 > 0:14:01Craig Roy for more than three hours. He was asked to look at the
0:14:01 > 0:14:06
0:14:06 > 0:14:10In an interview with another forensic scientist, Craig Roy said
0:14:10 > 0:14:15that he did not habitually carry and night and he was against knife
0:14:15 > 0:14:20crime. He told another that on the night of the six will be to the is
0:14:20 > 0:14:25and 10, denied that Jack Frew died, Jack Frew had exposed himself to
0:14:25 > 0:14:28him in the woods. He said he was furious and told the doctor that
0:14:28 > 0:14:34his next recollection was of the Jack Frew lying on the ground with
0:14:34 > 0:14:41the winds, covered in blood. The court heard that Jack Frew was
0:14:41 > 0:14:47described as a sex pest by Craig Roy. Jack Frew's father shook his
0:14:47 > 0:14:51head as Craig Roy's claims were read out over his son's use of
0:14:51 > 0:14:54alcohol and drugs. Senior civil servants will meet
0:14:54 > 0:14:57this week to discuss whether the former Royal Bank of Scotland chief
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Sir Fred Goodwin is to be stripped of his knighthood awarded for
0:15:00 > 0:15:03services to the industry. The Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs he
0:15:04 > 0:15:06expected the Honours Forfeiture Committee to sit in the coming days.
0:15:06 > 0:15:12He said it would consider all evidence including the FSA report
0:15:12 > 0:15:18into the RBS debacle. A look now at what else has been
0:15:18 > 0:15:21happening across the country this Wednesday.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26Glasgow engineering firm via a group has bought at Texas company
0:15:26 > 0:15:30for more than �1 million. The new company makes pump funds for their
0:15:30 > 0:15:34oil and gas industry. There has been a marked rise in its
0:15:35 > 0:15:39serious crime in Dumfries and Galloway. Sexual offences went up
0:15:39 > 0:15:45by 43%. A police say that the overall rate in the region is still
0:15:45 > 0:15:51lost in it Scotland. A hill walker has died after
0:15:51 > 0:15:56falling will climbing and mountain. She was part of a group that was
0:15:56 > 0:16:01walking in Wester Ross. Tourism businesses in its Edinburgh
0:16:01 > 0:16:06have warned that investment is needed if the capital is to attract
0:16:06 > 0:16:11visitors throughout the year. identifying out to develop a winter
0:16:11 > 0:16:16product development, so that we can attract people all year round.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Protesters against controversial plans to redevelop gardens in the
0:16:20 > 0:16:26Aberdeen it demonstrated outside the council. The latest rage of the
0:16:26 > 0:16:31project was debated. Plans for a wind farm have been
0:16:31 > 0:16:36rejected on appeal. It was because of their impact on the landscape.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41Another 40 jobs are to be created in the Moray, as efforts continue
0:16:41 > 0:16:44to offset the closure of the RAF base. The new jobs at a call centre
0:16:44 > 0:16:49are in addition to the 100 announced last year.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53And there is more on those and other stories on the BBC Scotland
0:16:53 > 0:16:56website. The Scottish Government's spending
0:16:56 > 0:17:00plans for the next financial year have passed their first
0:17:00 > 0:17:03parliamentary hurdle. The budget includes a guaranteed training
0:17:03 > 0:17:06place for every 16 to 19-year-old and the continuation of the Council
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Tax freeze. But Labour claims it does not recognise the scale of the
0:17:09 > 0:17:13jobs crisis facing Scotland and the Greens described it as a good day
0:17:13 > 0:17:20to bury a bad budget. The final vote on the bill is expected next
0:17:20 > 0:17:23month. Well, fair fa' your honest sonsie
0:17:23 > 0:17:26face. Of course, all that has been happening in the political sphere
0:17:26 > 0:17:29today has been timed to coincide with Burns Day, when we celebrate
0:17:29 > 0:17:31the birthday of our national bard. As Aileen Clarke has been finding
0:17:32 > 0:17:41out, Rabbie has been well celebrated here and abroad
0:17:42 > 0:17:54
0:17:54 > 0:18:04At this premise school in Kirkintilloch, rehearsals were well
0:18:04 > 0:18:10
0:18:10 > 0:18:13under way today for the school Burns's supper. -- Burns Supper.
0:18:13 > 0:18:23They have learnt the poems, the format and I think they will
0:18:23 > 0:18:24
0:18:25 > 0:18:34remember this. Hopefully they will Our lads in Afghanistan are
0:18:35 > 0:18:41
0:18:41 > 0:18:51performed the soldier's return. Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, this flash
0:18:51 > 0:18:52
0:18:52 > 0:19:01mop Kayleigh was celebrating the bar go and dance. -- flash mob
0:19:01 > 0:19:05ceilidh. And rehearsals were still going strong. But they clearly know
0:19:05 > 0:19:15what they are burnt inside the school, but I wonder how people
0:19:15 > 0:19:24
0:19:24 > 0:19:34will do outside? -- know their Burns. Luckily, I have the words on
0:19:34 > 0:19:41
0:19:41 > 0:19:44a new Burns Night up on my phone. - Scottish actor Nicol Williamson,
0:19:44 > 0:19:51best known for his role as the wizard Merlin in the 1981 film
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Excalibur, has died aged 73. The Hamilton born actor, seen here in a
0:19:54 > 0:19:56BBC production of Macbeth, passed away shortly before Christmas at
0:19:56 > 0:20:04his home in Amsterdam. The playwright John Osborne once called
0:20:04 > 0:20:08him the greatest actor since Marlon Brando.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11And now the sport. Andy Murray will face world number
0:20:11 > 0:20:20one Novak Djokovic in the semi final of the Australian open after
0:20:20 > 0:20:22his straight sets victory down under. Murray reached his fifth
0:20:22 > 0:20:25consecutive grand slam semi by seeing off Japan's Kei Nishikori.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29From Melbourne, David McDaid reports.
0:20:29 > 0:20:39If level of support was anything to go by. This could have been at
0:20:39 > 0:20:50
0:20:50 > 0:20:56close-run thing. Very quickly, it His followers feared the worst. The
0:20:56 > 0:21:02man showed that he was not be counted out just yet. Andy Murray
0:21:02 > 0:21:12tried and failed to pull off his own trick shot. He still managed to
0:21:12 > 0:21:14
0:21:14 > 0:21:17take their first set. Poor service stopped him breaking clear. The
0:21:17 > 0:21:24Scot eventually cruised into his fifth straight Grand Slam semi-
0:21:24 > 0:21:29final. We have played a lot of long matches. I wanted to make it as
0:21:29 > 0:21:39tough as possible for him in the beginning. That paid off. It is not
0:21:39 > 0:21:40
0:21:40 > 0:21:47an easy thing to do it. People might think it happens, but the
0:21:47 > 0:21:52other guys are some of the best players. With one that -- with just
0:21:52 > 0:21:56one set dropped all tournament, it has been plain sailing. But now he
0:21:56 > 0:22:02will have to beat the world No. 1 and the man who pipped him to the
0:22:02 > 0:22:11title last year. West Ham have offered Rangers �7
0:22:11 > 0:22:14million for their top goal scorer Nikitsa Yelavitch. The English
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Championship club have been holding talks with the Ibrox club for the
0:22:17 > 0:22:20past week. However, Rangers think the Croatian international is worth
0:22:20 > 0:22:21more. The player, who has scored 17 goals this season, is also
0:22:22 > 0:22:24attracting interest from Liverpool and Fulham.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Scotland's rugby coach, Andy Robinson, says he will use his
0:22:27 > 0:22:30anger over what he calls England's arrogance to motivate the Scots for
0:22:30 > 0:22:33their forthcoming Six Nations match. Robinson says he did not like the
0:22:33 > 0:22:37English player's attitude during and after their win over his team
0:22:37 > 0:22:40at the recent World Cup. This year's competition was officially
0:22:40 > 0:22:43launched in London today, when the captains of all six nations pitched
0:22:43 > 0:22:51up to, well, to pose for the cameras, basically. Scotland play
0:22:51 > 0:22:56England at Murrayfield a week on Saturday.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59We have already had some Burns tonight. Here's some more. To see
0:22:59 > 0:23:02oursels as ithers see us. So, how do others see us? Well, Laura
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Bicker had a rare chance to find out when she joined the
0:23:04 > 0:23:11international press corps, who descended on Edinburgh in huge
0:23:11 > 0:23:16numbers to cover Alex Salmond's statement. But, of course, it's not
0:23:16 > 0:23:20the only world event concerned with the state of the Union.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Members of Congress, distinguished guests and a fellow Americans.
0:23:24 > 0:23:33hours after one of America's grandest political events,
0:23:33 > 0:23:43President Obama's state of her -- state of the Union address, the
0:23:43 > 0:23:45
0:23:45 > 0:23:49world's media came to Edinburgh Castle, to see this man. I am from
0:23:49 > 0:23:57Italy and we're very interested about the situation, because it is
0:23:57 > 0:24:01very important to understand how they would share power. It will be
0:24:01 > 0:24:05in a Chinese and English and we're covering vast news because it is
0:24:05 > 0:24:13important in Britain and in the world. Norway has always struggled
0:24:13 > 0:24:16for independence as well and we're not a member of the EU. There were
0:24:16 > 0:24:21referendum has been spoken in around 17 different languages in
0:24:21 > 0:24:25this hall today. There are journalists from Canada or
0:24:25 > 0:24:35Australia and even Japan. Make no mistake, the decision the Scottish
0:24:35 > 0:24:43
0:24:43 > 0:24:53people have to make is being watched around the world.
0:24:53 > 0:24:53
0:24:53 > 0:24:59Wet and windy for some of us today. Later on, in the second half of the
0:25:00 > 0:25:04night, it will be turning frosty. Some of the rain will be quite
0:25:04 > 0:25:12heavy over the next couple of hours. Once it clears the way, some
0:25:12 > 0:25:16clearer skies. Temperatures for most it down to freezing or just
0:25:16 > 0:25:26under. Taking a look at the pressure charge for tomorrow, there
0:25:26 > 0:25:33
0:25:33 > 0:25:39is the overnight rain. For most of us, it will be at dry and bright
0:25:39 > 0:25:44start. You could see some at sleet at all levels. It, mid-afternoon
0:25:44 > 0:25:54tomorrow, generally dry and cloudy. Temperatures back to where they
0:25:54 > 0:25:58
0:25:58 > 0:26:02should be, highs around the five Celsius. The rest of the afternoon
0:26:02 > 0:26:07and into the evening will stay much the same. One or two showers are
0:26:07 > 0:26:14scattered across the country. Once again, the risk of ice across much
0:26:14 > 0:26:19of Scotland. One or two showers again and wintry over the higher
0:26:19 > 0:26:22ground. Into the weekend, it is a little bit complicated. There is
0:26:22 > 0:26:26any area of high pressure over Scandinavia and that will battle
0:26:26 > 0:26:30with weather fronts tried to walk the way in from the Atlantic. That
0:26:30 > 0:26:34means we will not -- we do not know he further agree more common on
0:26:34 > 0:26:40Saturday at the minute. For the start of the weekend, the West is
0:26:40 > 0:26:43likely to be wetter than the the East. Stay tuned as we reveal the
0:26:43 > 0:26:46detail on that. Tonight will be wet and icy.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Now, just before 7pm, a summary of tonight's top stories:
0:26:49 > 0:26:55The First Minister has revealed for the first time the question he
0:26:55 > 0:26:58wants to put to the Scottish people in a referendum. "Do you agree that
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Scotland should be an independent country?" will be the question on
0:27:00 > 0:27:03the ballot paper in Autumn 2014, but there's still disagreement with
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Westminster on when it should be held, what questions should be
0:27:05 > 0:27:08asked and who should be allowed to vote.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11The UK economy shrank by 0.2% in the final months of last year,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14prompting fears of a return to recession. The fall in growth was
0:27:15 > 0:27:17driven by a decline in manufacturing and construction. The
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Chancellor, George Osborne, said the figures were disappointing.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23That's all from us for now. I'm back with the late news just before