27/01/2012 Reporting Scotland

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

Is he worth it? Public fury and political pressure mount, over a �1

million bonus for Stephen Hester, the Chief Executive of RBS.

need the right people, but that just seems out of order.

We will hear the arguments for and against the award.

Also tonight... The teenager accused of murdering

his schoolfriend breaks down in the witness box, as he is questioned

about the killing. We are with police in the Borders,

as they step up their campaign against metal theft on the railways.

And the support was there and at times he was rampant, but in the

end, Andy Murray just did not have enough to see off Novak Djokovic.

There has been widespread anger at the news that the chief executive

of the Royal Bank of Scotland is to receive a bonus of nearly �1

million worth of shares. Stephen Hester has faced calls to

refuse the award, at a time when many people face a squeeze on

earnings and businesses are struggling.

Tonight, the First Minister, while not commenting directly on that

bonus, said that banks supported by the taxpayer should "exercise

restraint". Our business and economy editor Douglas Fraser is

here with more. An outrage or simply the going

rate? Let us hear the arguments about Scotland's biggest company

and you decide. First, the facts...

Stephen Hester, the corporate surgeon who joined the bank after

the crisis hit, has a salary of �1.2 million per year. That has

been frozen for a fourth year. To earn his bonus, he needs to hit

targets in the bank's recovery programme. He has not hit them all.

Lending has fallen short, the share price has been weak.

So while he might have had a bonus worth �1.6m, he is getting �963,000

worth of shares, possibly lots more in a long-term bonus. The boss of

this giant bailed-out bank, Stephen Hester's a lightning rod for public

anger. At a time when vulnerable people have seen their benefits cut

and wages are frozen to the lowest rate since the 1920s, it is

scandalous that he is getting this. At is ridiculous. What is he doing?

Sitting behind a desk making a few decisions? I think people who do

make a real difference should be getting this, people will look

after children and save lives. But let us look at it from another

point of view. This is a bank, not a government department.

From the bosses' perspective, if RBS is to recover, it has to

compete. In the market place, directors on

the board's remuneration committee are setting pay to retain rare

talent. In that market place, banker pay is

very high. I think it is a very difficult time. At difficult times,

you require really good people at the top. All executives know what

the market rate is. The renumeration committee has got a

problem if it takes a stand. If it tries to hold pay down against

market forces, there will be a lot of disgruntled top management teams

and you could hear people leaving. That would be hugely disruptive.

It is worth remembering we all have a stake in the value of Stephen

Hester's bonus becoming much bigger, because we own a lot more shares

than he does. The Great British public has 82% of

the bank. But to break even, to get our head

above water, we need the share price above 51p, but it is now a

long way under water. That is the gap we have got to

close if we are to get back our �45 billion Royal Bank bail-out.

The teenager accused of the murder of an East Kilbride schoolboy told

the High Court in Glasgow that he did not remember stabbing him 20

times and slitting his throat. Craig Roy has admitted killing Jack

Frew, but denies murder. Roy broke down several times in the witness

box while being cross-examined. He maintained that he had tried to

help Jack Frew, after discovering what he had done. Named three had

already moved up into the witness box and he told about the night he

killed his classmate Jack Frew. Craig Roy when there because he

wanted to stop Jack Frew what he called it blackmailing him. But

when asked, do you take responsibility for the killing, he

said I do not want to believe it, but logically, yes. The court had

just heard that Jack Frew was stabbed 20 times and had his throat

cut. The prosecutor asked Craig Roy if he remembered stabbing Jack Frew.

Do you remember him fighting back, of which is why you got the

injuries to your hands? Did you remember him screaming for his

life? Twice, the court was adjourned when Craig Roy tried in

the dock. There was a while after in the dock when Jack Frew said he

was trying to help at Craig Roy. Craig Roy replied, I do not

remember stabbing him. Craig Roy has completed his evidence. He will

return to the dock when his trial resumes on Monday.

You are watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on the

programme... Pioneering a new way of warning

about high pollution, using e-mail and text messages.

And we look at the preparations for the biggest Burns Supper in the

world. In sport, we will hear from Andy

Murray, after that nerve-shredding showdown with Novak Djokovic in the

Australian Open tennis semifinals. And we look ahead to tomorrow's big

Hampden cup semifinal with a cult British Transport police say the

theft of metal is now their top priority. Thefts are continuing

across the country, driven by the high price of metals like lead and

copper wire. Metal theft is the Transport police's biggest priority

after terrorism. They have been leading the task force trying to

stamp it out. Today they are telling scrap dealers and the

Borders telling them what to look for. I think people see this as an

easy opportunity and I think the rest is law and the chance of being

detected us all. That is why it is important that we are seen to be

clamping down on these people. has already started on the new rail

line from the Borders took Edinburgh. It is expected to bring

a whole new lease of life to the area, but it may also bring

opportunities for thieves. This is why the police are so worried. The

police these criminals broke into this Yarden stole overhead power

lines. The cost the network �16 million last year. There are

organised and persistent and nothing is sacred. Plaques have

been stolen from graves and the cost of preparing this roof at the

respite centre for young children will run into tens of thousands of

pounds. We are all very very angry. The amount of money and time that

was put into raising the money for this beautiful facility, it is so

what needed for the families. If people could see what the families

get out of this I am sure they would not do this sort of thing.

Soaring metal prices are encouraging this crime, but the

gunmen are bringing in new laws about scrap merchants in order to

do something to stop this. In Cambuslang has a man jailed for a

killing has failed in his appeal. Up the cost of moving on in

Scotland has come up higher than house prices. He said the estate

agent fees where the biggest largest expense. World Holocaust

the has been marked across Scotland. She was very important to because

she was a local hero and died helping the children. Scottish

Water have assured residents that their water quality should improve

by March. Shetland Islands are looking at ways of slashing �29

million off its budget over the next two years. Proposals include

cutting wages and ferry services. Unions say the cuts are too deep,

but the island authority says as to rain in its spending. The proposed

visitors' centre for the battle of Bannockburn has been awarded almost

�4 million of lottery money. It will celebrate the battles seven

hundredth anniversary. The new campus for the University of the

West of Scotland universe there has It may come as a surprise to learn

that pollution levels in Scotland are sometimes so high that we are

advised not to exercise outdoors. Now Scotland is to become the first

part of the UK to offer a pollution alert system which could eventually

be incorporated into weather forecasts.

NHS Lanarkshire has been fined 24 This is the type of weather

forecast we are used to, but could that change and we could then be

getting this sort of forecasts? This is one of Scotland's most

polluted streets, ironically called Hope Street. I went to the air

quality monitoring system. The this is a fresh one, the slightly green

one has been in for a day and this one which is quite dark has been in

for two weeks. E even on a winter day like today, air-quality can be

poor. But now you can be warmed through and you are alert system.

People can subscribe to the air quality website and if we have the

warning of higher pollution, we can warn people buy text or e-mail.

some days, pollution levels are so high we should all avoid exercise.

If there was a way of warning people that they should maybe

reduce the amount of exercise they do hear the do that day outdoors

that would be good. So now, even when we complain about the weather,

we now even have something to NHS Lanarkshire has been fined

�24,000 thousand pounds over health and safety breaches, which saw a

woman get Legionnaires' disease. The 64-year-old developed the

condition while being treated at Hartwoodhill Hospital in November

2008. She was subsequently treated in Wishaw General. A subsequent

investigation by the Health and Safety Executive identified

legionella bacteria in three sources in the water system at

Hartwoodhill. More than 40 calls were received

from members of the public after last night's Crimewatch appeal

concerning the theft of half a million pounds of old Scottish

coins, some dating back 900 years. The collection was taken from the

Broughton home of Lord and Lady Lothian and Borders Police said

they were "thrilled" at the response.

Almost 70 years ago, the ancient seat of Clan Cameron near Fort

William was transformed into Britain's secret weapon, a training

centre for the Commandos. Between 1942 and 1945 thousands of

servicemen would pass through Achnacarry. Next week, a BBC

Scotland documentary will tell the story of how Achnacarry and other

Highland estates helped shape Britain's wartime special forces.

And, as Colin Wight reports, the music in the programme has a strong

link with just one of them. Music from Castle Commando, written by a

renowned Highland fiddler. His contribution is a vital part of the

programme. This manual has stood the test of time. A lot have been

used, all around the world. Castle commanded tells the story about how

Achnacarry's remote location made it an ideal exercise ground for

some of Britain's toughest troops. This man's grandfather was one

other key players. He was seriously injured at a castle will live mine

went off, killing the man next to him. He was reassigned to after

recuperation and are taught the commanders to ski. I know the

landscape very well, very well indeed. Between the landscape and

the stories that I knew, it was a very easy job to do. The music just

poured out. I was very pleased with And you can see Castle Commando on

BBC Two Scotland next Tuesday night at 9pm. David is here with the

sport. Yes, Andy Murray of pushed the world's best tennis player all

the way but ultimately missed out on success. The defending champion

beat the Scot in a gruelling match. Despite this, Andy Murray says he

has made great strides. After Australia Day came Caledonia day.

He had come -- they had come from all over Scotland. Come on, Andy!

You're going to win! I think he will come out on top in the end.

Early on, that confidence looked misplaced. Chocolate-chip won the

first set. Things went from bad to worse -- the defending champion won

the first set. The Serb court his second wind and Paddy Murray saved

three points before going two-one ahead. -- Andy Murray. That lasted

all of 88 minutes, but just 25 minutes later, the world No. 1

broker again. He eventually sit -- lost the gruelling match. The main

thing I takeaway was the great performance by him. I'm happy.

now, it is back to the practice courts before another crack at the

French Open in May. Hearts won't be punished by the SPL

for failing to pay their players on time. The league had charged the

Tynecastle club with failing to act in the utmost faith after missing a

deadline for payment, but after a four hour hearing at Hampden today

the case against the club was dismissed. Today's hearing was very

fair. We are satisfied. We heard from two of the directors today and

we were satisfied that they did believe that by doing what they did,

they were complying with the order. On that basis, it would have been

wrong to find that they breach their conduct. It's the Communities

Cup semi-finals weekend. The first one is tomorrow and it's an all-

Ayshire affair. Ancient and deep rivalries will be renewed when

Premier League Kilmarnock and part time First Division Ayr United meet

at Hampden, The first time the teams have met for three years.

Welcome to Ayreshire, a heart of Burns country. The one thing

everybody is talking about round here is a big game. Well, almost

everybody. We are both happy that we are meeting each other, it is a

great thing for the people of Ayreshire. We will certainly look

forward to it. What better place to put on an event like this.

expect more of this from a local The anthem is about the big game.

Can't live with them, can't live without them. It is all about a

positive message and the fact that Ayr United are getting to play on a

huge stage, great opportunity. It is all about that. And the good, or

bad, News is that he is already working on a song for the final.

The greatest ever Ayreshire man, but I can't help wondering what he

would have made of things if he were alive today. What is it you

want to know, big man? I want to know about the game tomorrow.

see what happens on the day. That is atrocious! One of those men is

around impostor -- an impostor! They're billing it the biggest

Burns Supper in the world and it's taking place in Dumfries this

weekend. With 80 performances in 44 venues, the Big Burns Supper is

essentially a Burns-inspired arts festival. Willie Johnston has been

to sample the menu. Forget your traditional Burns Supper. The Big

Burns Supper is more of an artistic feast, nothing set in stone. Last

night, in rehearsal of tonight's one door opening event on the banks

of the myth. Visual arts, cinema, music of every genre. The English

natural opera brings home the world premier of the new work of the life

of Burns. We have found there are so many parallels about the drama,

the love, the loss. Also starring is this folk-singer, Emily Smith.

She says it is important to portray traditional music in a contemporary

way for new generations. But as the aim of an eclectic, often quirky

weekend programme. Venues include a fast food joint and the gents

toilet was standing Room for four. We have got a whole table, and you

are sitting on a table, and each of those venues represents be speaking

at a Burns Supper. The best of or his new for Scotland. If the menu

is sufficiently appetising, it Here is a look ahead to this week's

Politics Scotland. What the international media made a loss

this week. We're on the track of the high-speed rail link, and the

Scottish Tory leader is joining us. Hopefully, you will as well.

was the weekend where they are shaping up? What a lovely, wintery,

bright afternoon across the country. It will stayed largely dry

overnight but it will turn very chilly. A very cold at night ahead.

Clear skies and tonight for much of Scotland. As a result of the clear

skies, a widespread frost developing and also some freezing

fog patches and a risk of ice there. Tomorrow morning, a cold and frosty

start with the risk of ice, especially across southern parts of

the border. Once that clears, it will be dry and bright across much

of the country. Tomorrow afternoon, still on the chilly side.

Temperatures around two or three degrees, but towards the West, we

have this weather front that is trying to pursue in from the West.

In parts of the Highlands where we see there is a very low

temperatures, highs will struggle to get above freezing. Much lighter

winds then we have seen for a while. Skiing this weekend, dry and bright

with light winds, but a lot of patchy snow around. As we head

towards tomorrow evening, that front continues to try to push into

western parts. Most places will see another clear night, turning quite

chilly. We have got this massive area of high pressure pitching in

from Scandinavia. Sunday, outbreaks of rain towards the West. As we

start the new week, we can see that battle continues, drier and

brighter towards the east but those funds are really pushing into

western parts. They will turn to snow have ever higher ground.

summary of tonight's top stories: There's been widespread anger at

the news that the chief executive of the Royal Bank Of Scotland is to

receive a bonus of nearly one million pounds-worth of shares.

Stephen Hester has faced calls to refuse the award, at a time when

many people face a squeeze on earnings and businesses are

struggling. The teenager accused of the murder of an East Kilbride

schoolboy told the High court in Glasgow that he didn't remember

stabbing him twenty times and slitting his throat. Craig Roy has

admitted killing Jack Frew but denies murder.

Passengers on the Costa Concordia which ran aground off Italy are