:00:16. > :00:18.Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news, more
:00:18. > :00:22.money for housing in the Scottish Government's �28 billion annual
:00:22. > :00:32.budget. John Swinney says his blueprint will revive the economy.
:00:32. > :00:33.
:00:33. > :00:36.Opponents say it'll make worse. We will hear from both sides. The man
:00:36. > :00:41.at the centre of this worldwide internet hit when he was filmed
:00:41. > :00:49.throwing a student off a train will not be charged with assault. Also
:00:49. > :00:55.in the programme this evening... That is the most heartbreaking
:00:55. > :00:57.thing about this illness. How one son's experience of caring for his
:00:57. > :01:07.mother led to a nation-wide campaign to highlight awareness of
:01:07. > :01:13.dementia. What is this doing part in the middle of the water? --
:01:13. > :01:16.MSPs have tonight backed plans to spend �28 billion on Scottish
:01:16. > :01:19.public services in the year ahead. The Finance Secretary John Swinney
:01:19. > :01:21.announced extra money for colleges, transport and housing. But the vote
:01:21. > :01:24.followed sharp exchanges at Holyrood over whether the package
:01:24. > :01:34.will revive the economy, or make it worse. Our political editor Brian
:01:34. > :01:36.
:01:36. > :01:40.Taylor assesses the impact on the Michael has got a borders
:01:40. > :01:46.construction company. It is the company's 75th anniversary and like
:01:46. > :01:49.others, faces a host of problems. lack of economic demand and
:01:49. > :01:53.confidence and mortgage availability of. But they are
:01:53. > :01:58.carrying on at keeping workers employed. They need a boost to the
:01:58. > :02:03.economy. There does not seem to be much demand for this employment.
:02:03. > :02:09.You need customers. We need customers, yes. We cannot just
:02:09. > :02:14.build and keep them employed. spending an extra �87 billion on
:02:14. > :02:18.social housing Evert three years. To boost the economy generally,
:02:18. > :02:25.there is almost three and 83 million in capital spending during
:02:25. > :02:30.the same period. That includes 72 million on roads at 28 million on
:02:30. > :02:35.high-speed broadband. We have acted decisively in response. We have
:02:35. > :02:38.looked at the economy, public services and the people of Scotland.
:02:38. > :02:45.Colleges will get 20 million more than planned this year for student
:02:45. > :02:50.support and college places. It is limiting cuts in the pipeline. It
:02:50. > :02:53.was a cautious welcome from the Liberal Democrats. It is a step in
:02:53. > :02:59.the right direction within the constraints of the settlement.
:02:59. > :03:04.Labour said it was far short. budget set out to cut housing by
:03:04. > :03:09.more than 30% and colleges by 20 % even with today's Ltd but welcoming
:03:09. > :03:15.backtracking. It is not a Budget designed to get people back into
:03:15. > :03:19.work in the construction industry. People have demanded more money or
:03:19. > :03:24.cycling. They have got millions. The levy on retailers to sell
:03:24. > :03:30.alcohol and tobacco goes ahead but it is reduced by 15 million. That
:03:30. > :03:37.will be ploughed back into business rates. The Conservatives are habit.
:03:37. > :03:42.It will make Scotland -- are not happy. We it will make them less
:03:42. > :03:47.competitive. Questions and more questions. Back in the placid
:03:48. > :03:57.beauty of the Borders, they have just got one question to ask. Will
:03:58. > :03:58.
:03:58. > :04:08.Although they have got a big majority, they were tried to get
:04:08. > :04:08.
:04:09. > :04:12.support today. Did any of the opposition -- opposition side. --?
:04:12. > :04:21.Literally at the last minute, the Liberal Democrats decided to be in
:04:21. > :04:24.favour. They took a decision that aspects of the budget, they are not
:04:24. > :04:28.happy with it and that it is not perfect but they decided that on
:04:28. > :04:37.balance that it was new money for housing and for colleges and they
:04:37. > :04:42.have got money. It is not filling the hole gab but it is more money.
:04:42. > :04:45.The situation is regarded as an electoral game. But we are looking
:04:45. > :04:54.at local government financial settlement and we will have more
:04:54. > :05:03.A man who removed an alleged fare dodger from a train will not now
:05:03. > :05:06.face prosecution. 35 year-old Alan Pollock was charged with assault
:05:06. > :05:09.after throwing 19 year-old student Sam Main off the train at
:05:09. > :05:11.Linlithgow station when he became involved in an argument with a
:05:11. > :05:21.ticket collector. Video of the incident attracted more than two
:05:21. > :05:25.
:05:25. > :05:29.It was a video that went by well and divided public opinion. Tens of
:05:29. > :05:35.thousands watched this footage online when the big man, Alan
:05:35. > :05:41.Pollock removed an apparent the Fed dodger, Sam Main back in December.
:05:41. > :05:47.-- fare Dodger. At the time it caused controversy and frustration
:05:47. > :05:50.for the student that was ejected. bet he did not understand all I was
:05:51. > :06:00.not explaining the story well enough. But it was a
:06:00. > :06:05.misunderstanding and I was chucked off the train. Alan Pollock was
:06:05. > :06:05.charged after Sam Main reported him. charged after Sam Main reported him.
:06:05. > :06:15.But today, the authorities have said that after careful
:06:15. > :06:19.
:06:19. > :06:23.At the time, it divided the nation with opinion split on whether or
:06:23. > :06:30.not the man was right to chuck the student off the train. It appears
:06:30. > :06:39.that this ruling has also divided the public. Just leave it as it is.
:06:39. > :06:43.Just move on, I say it. It could be the wrong thing because the man
:06:43. > :06:48.that took the law into his own hands, he could have acted
:06:48. > :06:56.illegally and that is wrong in itself. The guy has proved he had
:06:56. > :07:01.his ticket. Tonight, the father of Alan Pollock said that he is
:07:01. > :07:05.relieved that his son will not be facing potential prosecution. It
:07:05. > :07:14.could have been used as evidence in a trial but this footage will
:07:14. > :07:17.remain just as an internet it. -- If you're caught carrying a knife
:07:17. > :07:20.in Scotland you're more likely to end up in jail than in any other
:07:20. > :07:23.part of the UK. That's according to the latest figures from the
:07:23. > :07:28.Scottish government. Today they extended a scheme which has helped
:07:28. > :07:32.reduce knife-carrying by up to a third in some parts of the country.
:07:33. > :07:40.It costs leads and blights community. My crime has been a
:07:40. > :07:44.focus for successive government. -- knife crime. Figures released show
:07:44. > :07:50.that of people convicted of offences, just under 31 % are
:07:50. > :07:56.jailed in Scotland. In England and Wales, just 20 %. In Northern
:07:56. > :08:02.Ireland, 22 %. Sentences are tougher here as well. Average jail
:08:02. > :08:07.terms are 288 days in Scotland, compared to 165 South of the border.
:08:07. > :08:11.Ministers said it was part of a tough policy. We have got more
:08:11. > :08:14.police officers carrying out stop and searches. Less people are
:08:14. > :08:19.carrying weapons and more are being caught and the people getting
:08:19. > :08:25.caught are going to prison for longer because sentences have gone
:08:25. > :08:31.up and the average sentence is nine months. It is left to doctors to
:08:31. > :08:35.pick up BPB's, sometimes literally. -- pieces. Alcohol counselling has
:08:35. > :08:42.been reducing interpersonal violence and they have accepted
:08:42. > :08:45.that court sanctions are reported. The evidence is that it is a
:08:45. > :08:50.significant part in preventing knife crime but it is perhaps not
:08:50. > :08:55.quite as strong as we thought. It is one of these things that can be
:08:55. > :08:59.utilised but maybe not the best important. Ministers have announced
:08:59. > :09:08.that the anti- night campaign is being extended with more funding to
:09:08. > :09:11.educate young people. -- knife Still to come on your national news
:09:11. > :09:14.before seven... The sound of Barra. But for how much longer? Islanders
:09:14. > :09:19.protest at Government plans to turn their fishing grounds into a
:09:19. > :09:22.conservation area. In sport, Scotland's rugby coach says his
:09:22. > :09:26.squad remains united despite a difficult start to the Six Nations
:09:26. > :09:36.campaign. We'll hear from Andy Robinson. And Celtic haven't lost
:09:36. > :09:37.
:09:37. > :09:39.to a Scottish team since October. They're playing them again tonight.
:09:39. > :09:43.We'll look ahead to Celtic vs Hearts with the Scotland manager
:09:43. > :09:46.Craig Levein. He's a full time carer for his mother who has
:09:46. > :09:48.dementia and at the same time he campaigns to raise awareness of the
:09:48. > :09:51.condition. Last yea,r Tommy Whitelaw travelled around Scotland
:09:51. > :09:54.gathering the experiences of other carers and this evening he's taking
:09:54. > :10:04.them to the health minister at Holyrood. He's produced a film to
:10:04. > :10:06.
:10:06. > :10:09.This is Tommy Whitelaw and his mother in June last year. Shortly
:10:09. > :10:17.afterwards, Tommy decided more should be done for people with
:10:17. > :10:22.dementia like his mother. He embarked on a one-man campaign.
:10:22. > :10:28.Celtic Park. Nowadays, this stadium has the capacity for more than
:10:28. > :10:33.60,000 people. If we were to host an event and invite every single
:10:33. > :10:38.person in Scotland that has Alzheimer's, we would still have AQ
:10:38. > :10:48.out of the door and we would need another stadium. -- queues of
:10:48. > :10:57.
:10:57. > :11:05.people. What about the carers and Ibrox stadium holds 51,000 people.
:11:05. > :11:13.Not enough to have won a care each. -- a carer each. He has gathered
:11:13. > :11:18.letters and stories from other areas. -- stories. I look after my
:11:18. > :11:26.husband and I have done everything for him and now he is gone I will
:11:26. > :11:36.never get him back. I have lost the never get him back. I have lost the
:11:36. > :12:07.
:12:07. > :12:11.future but I was a people. -- And half the population has a
:12:11. > :12:17.friend or relative affected by dementia. That figure is set to
:12:17. > :12:26.rise. This evening, Tommy is asking the Scottish government what is
:12:27. > :12:30.A five-year-old boy who died after apparently choking on a grape at an
:12:30. > :12:34.after school club has been named. The parents of Louis Emaho have
:12:34. > :12:38.described him as bright, happy and bubbly child who always had a smile
:12:38. > :12:43.on his face. An investigation into how he died at a sports centre in
:12:43. > :12:45.the village of Newtonhill yesterday afternoon is underway.
:12:45. > :12:48.Earlier we heard about the Scottish government's spending plans and
:12:48. > :12:53.tomorrow, councils will be voting on their budgets for the coming
:12:53. > :12:56.year. Like everyone in the public sector, they've been looking at
:12:56. > :12:58.ways of saving money and some radical options have been expolored.
:12:58. > :13:07.Our local government correspondent is at the Glasgow City Chambers,
:13:07. > :13:12.the home of the Scotland's biggest council.
:13:12. > :13:15.This is the ornate debating chamber of Glasgow City Council. The
:13:15. > :13:18.councillors will be filling these benches tomorrow to discuss their
:13:18. > :13:22.budget for the year ahead and some of the meetings will be taking
:13:22. > :13:26.place in many parts of the country. Although the past few years, will
:13:26. > :13:29.be have heard lots about cuts to jobs and services, but what about
:13:30. > :13:38.really radical options for the whole way local Government actually
:13:38. > :13:43.works? There are all kinds of old proposals. 32 separate councils
:13:43. > :13:48.used to mean a 32 social work departments. 32 education
:13:48. > :13:54.departments. Even 32 IT departments. Critics always said this was
:13:54. > :14:00.wasteful, but can this change without scrapping whole consuls.
:14:00. > :14:07.Two small consuls say yes. Sterling and tough one other are building a
:14:07. > :14:11.radical new model for Education. They now show that between them.
:14:11. > :14:15.The schools and sterling remains sterling schools, but for the team
:14:15. > :14:20.at the centre, it is meant that there is only one senior management
:14:20. > :14:25.team. A but what may get top marks here may not be right for everyone.
:14:25. > :14:29.Two years ago we reported this. Council services could be merged,
:14:30. > :14:34.posing a threat to thousands of jobs under radical new proposals to
:14:34. > :14:38.reform local Government. But this scheme has made limited progress.
:14:38. > :14:43.The first sod proposal was to share offer services like information
:14:43. > :14:49.technology. Even this has been scaled back. Two councils have even
:14:49. > :14:53.pulled out completely. Glasgow does not deliver services in the same
:14:53. > :14:59.way that Renfree does. There are local differences that have to be
:14:59. > :15:03.taken into consideration. But here is a really radical option. Does a
:15:03. > :15:07.consul service actually need to be provided by the council itself, or
:15:07. > :15:12.Canwick contract be given to a private business instead? In
:15:12. > :15:16.Edinburgh, two years of work led to a highly controversial scheme to do
:15:16. > :15:22.this with rubbish collection. Just months before the council elections,
:15:22. > :15:27.the scheme was thrown out. Inevitably, there will be issues
:15:27. > :15:33.upon which we have very strong, intense debates. At the end of the
:15:34. > :15:42.day, we have to agree to differ. A look now at what else has been
:15:42. > :15:45.happening across the country this Wednesday... The Supreme Court
:15:45. > :15:50.ruling in favour of offshore workers means that people who work
:15:50. > :15:53.overseas can bring their grievances to UK employment tribunals.
:15:53. > :15:57.Individuals have find themselves in a situation where they did not work
:15:57. > :16:03.in Britain and did not know for sure what to do. My they will have
:16:03. > :16:08.a far better idea. Hopes are raised that a buyer can be found for
:16:08. > :16:11.troubled Aberdeen Show shot drink firms shines. With and 30
:16:11. > :16:15.expressions of interest has been made.
:16:15. > :16:21.I investigation is under way into a fire at Strathclyde University's
:16:21. > :16:25.campus. It houses part of the Engineering Faculty and contains
:16:25. > :16:28.chemicals. It at the planning system for renewable energy in
:16:28. > :16:31.Scottish waters will be streamlined to make the development of offshore
:16:31. > :16:36.power easier. For the fifth year in succession,
:16:36. > :16:42.the Sea Kings of the HMS Gannett and Prestwick whether busier
:16:42. > :16:49.search-and-rescue helicopters in the UK. I am incredibly proud of
:16:49. > :16:55.our employees, at a who have Cup does get airborne to rescue 200
:16:55. > :17:01.patients. Chris Paterson could have a street in his home town of
:17:01. > :17:06.Galashiels named after him. They want to create a termagant --
:17:06. > :17:10.commentary Peter Scott and's most- capped player. Being left-handed
:17:10. > :17:13.like President Barack Obama could make you better decision-maker than
:17:13. > :17:16.a right-handed person. Researchers say it might be down to giving in a
:17:16. > :17:20.world for many objects and activities are designed for right-
:17:20. > :17:24.handed people. And there is more on those stories
:17:24. > :17:28.on the BBC website. It's a controversy familiar to
:17:28. > :17:31.millions of viewers of the hit BBC series Island Parish. The fishermen
:17:31. > :17:34.of Barra in the Western Isles fear their economy will be devastated if
:17:34. > :17:39.Scottish government plans to designate some of their waters a
:17:40. > :17:49.special area of conservation go ahead. Today they were at Holyrood
:17:49. > :17:55.hoping to persuade ministers to abandon their plans.
:17:55. > :17:59.This is a place off coral and creels. And the sea around Barra
:17:59. > :18:06.has sustained generations of locals, harvesting what lies beneath the
:18:06. > :18:11.water. It is part of Hebridean life which is currently attracting
:18:11. > :18:18.millions of years on the BBC's Island Parish. The series follows
:18:18. > :18:25.the local Catholic clergy and their flocks. A flock which is worried.
:18:25. > :18:30.It has an effect on every walk of life. People will leave and move on.
:18:30. > :18:35.The parish will crumble. Scottish Government are considering
:18:35. > :18:37.designating these waters a Special Area of Conservation. They say
:18:37. > :18:42.there are important Sandbanks, Greece and seals which need
:18:42. > :18:46.protection. But the locals sought protection from the
:18:46. > :18:52.conservationists. A delegation travelled to Holyrood to demand
:18:52. > :18:59.they are left alone. People are far better placed to manage their own
:18:59. > :19:03.affairs. It will have a serious effect on the economy of the island.
:19:03. > :19:10.Local fishermen fear they will be told when and where to fish. They
:19:10. > :19:13.want ministers to abandon the plans. But will they? This Minister loves
:19:13. > :19:18.and Nos Barra and will be proceeding forward with the
:19:18. > :19:21.interests of the people of Barra at heart. But he has not ruled out
:19:21. > :19:25.these waters being protected. Government conservationists say
:19:25. > :19:31.fishing could still continue as long as it was banished. Islanders
:19:31. > :19:34.insist that is what they already do without the help of officials.
:19:34. > :19:39.Police have been trying to trace the owners of a car found abandoned
:19:39. > :19:49.in the Solway Firth. No one was in the vehicle which was found in
:19:49. > :19:53.Cardoness Bay near Gatehouse of Fleet. Willie Johnston reports.
:19:53. > :19:57.An unwanted addition to the seascape. And this or by four got
:19:57. > :20:02.stuck some time on Monday night and for two days has appeared and
:20:02. > :20:07.disappeared with the changing tides. The tide has been receding for four
:20:07. > :20:15.cars and the car has come back into view. It is around half a mile from
:20:15. > :20:21.the nearest land. Probably for the purpose of legal cockle fishing,
:20:21. > :20:25.that is why it came here. We know that this area has been used by
:20:25. > :20:31.local fishermen and the fishing bills are actually closed here. It
:20:31. > :20:35.is a very dangerous area. The tide can change very quickly. The
:20:35. > :20:41.vehicle can become stranded easily. Local residents are not surprised
:20:41. > :20:46.that has happened. They observe a lot of the legal cockling. Usually
:20:46. > :20:53.from that direction, up to half a dozen or 10 of them. Usually on
:20:53. > :20:59.quad bikes. They're out there in all kinds of conditions. Quite
:20:59. > :21:04.frightening, really. The chance for the emergency services to get a
:21:04. > :21:08.close-up inspection using fire brigade water specialists. The task
:21:08. > :21:12.here is to establish their vehicle's identity and make sure
:21:12. > :21:17.that no one is left in it. After that, the car will simply be left
:21:17. > :21:20.to rot. Let's get the sport from David.
:21:20. > :21:25.The Scotland rugby coach Andy Robinson says he doesn't understand
:21:25. > :21:27.why his team has been losing matches. He insists the squad
:21:27. > :21:32.remains united despite a difficult start to the Six Nations, including
:21:32. > :21:35.defeat by England and a player quitting one match in. He was
:21:35. > :21:45.speaking after making two changes to his starting line-up for the
:21:45. > :21:46.
:21:46. > :21:50.match against Wales this weekend. It doesn't look much, does it? It
:21:50. > :21:54.is about three or four inches wide and it runs across the links as a
:21:55. > :22:00.rugby pitch. But the try line and not crossing it is costing Scotland
:22:00. > :22:04.Dili. The England match last weekend was the fourth game in a
:22:04. > :22:08.row that Scotland field to score a try. This man came closest coming
:22:08. > :22:16.from the bench. Now he gets his chance from the start. Are you the
:22:16. > :22:23.man to get Scotland over that line? We will soon find out! I hope so! I
:22:23. > :22:28.have been doing well for Edinburgh. There are good players here. We can
:22:28. > :22:34.hopefully cross the line. changes have been made for the
:22:34. > :22:41.match against Wales. Ewen Murray does not play on Sundays. And after
:22:41. > :22:44.his retirement yesterday, at this man comes in. The amount of man-of-
:22:44. > :22:52.the-match performance is that he has had, his enthusiasm, and the
:22:52. > :23:01.way he has played, he is great. the pressure on the team? I am here
:23:01. > :23:06.to win games. I do not understand are losing. I have a belief in the
:23:06. > :23:11.team. When you get into the positions we got it to be gained,
:23:11. > :23:17.be have to win games. The two years ago in Cardiff, Scott and threw
:23:17. > :23:20.away a ten-point lead in the last 10 minutes. Not the ideal place to
:23:20. > :23:24.replace. But he seems ready. Celtic can increase their lead over
:23:24. > :23:26.Rangers at the top of the Premier League to four points if they beat
:23:26. > :23:30.Hearts at Tynecastle tonight. But Hearts hold the distinction of
:23:30. > :23:33.being the last Scottish team to beat the SPL leaders. Tat was back
:23:33. > :23:43.at the start of October. Our senior Football reporter is at Tynecastle
:23:43. > :23:45.
:23:45. > :23:50.with a special guest. It is absolutely freezing here. It behind
:23:50. > :23:56.me here in just over 60 minutes, the atmosphere will be red hot. I
:23:56. > :24:01.am joined by a very special guest, at the Scotland manager. This
:24:01. > :24:05.picture has something about it, hasn't it? I am looking forward to
:24:05. > :24:11.it. It is an important game. Probably more so for Celtic and
:24:11. > :24:16.Hearts. It is their chance to keep their lead at the top of the table.
:24:16. > :24:20.I do not think they will be relishing coming here. Given the
:24:20. > :24:27.fact that Hearts were the last side to take points off them in the
:24:27. > :24:32.league, they could go in with some confidence. Yes. I agree with that.
:24:32. > :24:36.There are a couple of important players missing, though. Ian Black
:24:37. > :24:46.has been a very important player for Hearts. Neil Lennon will be
:24:47. > :24:47.
:24:47. > :24:52.glad to see those names missing. this becoming a bit of a problem?
:24:52. > :24:59.You would need to ask the people at the club. I do not profess to know
:24:59. > :25:09.the ins and outs. Predictions? the form itself to Corinne and the
:25:09. > :25:11.
:25:11. > :25:15.missing players from heart, let's see! Be her off for a warm drink!
:25:15. > :25:18.Done for London have drawn level points with heads. They still trail
:25:18. > :25:23.on goal difference. They have not won a league match at home this
:25:23. > :25:29.season. They drew against Kilmarnock last night, with James
:25:29. > :25:37.Fowler getting a goal halfway through the first half. But Andy
:25:37. > :25:47.Kirk event the scored just one minute from time. Dibble be able to
:25:47. > :25:53.
:25:53. > :25:56.A cloudy day across the country with three in pushing him from the
:25:56. > :26:01.West. When it reaches the colder air in the East, there is a chance
:26:01. > :26:11.that it will turn to freezing rain. That means that called rain will
:26:11. > :26:14.
:26:14. > :26:18.hit against already freezing services, turning instantly to ice.
:26:18. > :26:24.The rain will move across the country overnight. We will see some
:26:25. > :26:28.fairly heavy bursts around Argyll. The Gambians and Aberdeen sure as
:26:28. > :26:32.well. After an early dip in temperatures this evening, it will
:26:32. > :26:35.turn milder over night. It will stay chilly in the south-east,
:26:35. > :26:40.where we will continue to see a risk advice tomorrow morning.
:26:40. > :26:45.Elsewhere, it will be cloudy with further outbreaks. By the time we
:26:45. > :26:48.get to the mid-afternoon, we will see a clearance from the North. In
:26:48. > :26:52.southern and central part, it will stay fairly cloudy with outbreaks
:26:52. > :26:59.of rain. Trier and brighter conditions pushing him from the
:26:59. > :27:03.North. Temperatures ranging between six and eight Celsius. Tomorrow
:27:03. > :27:07.evening, it stays cloudy across the country and the brain will linger
:27:07. > :27:12.in the south. Tomorrow night will be slightly milder, so there will
:27:12. > :27:17.be less risk of ice or frost. Friday, it will be fairly cloudy.
:27:17. > :27:27.There will be further outbreaks of rain. Temperatures hovering around
:27:27. > :27:29.
:27:29. > :27:33.seven cells here is the pressure a chart. These fronts are still
:27:33. > :27:37.pushing and on Thursday and Friday, but there is this area of high
:27:37. > :27:46.pressure building in the Atlantic. As we head towards the weekend, it
:27:46. > :27:50.will be drier but quite cloudy. You can head to our website to find out
:27:50. > :27:53.Let's recap tonight's main stories...
:27:53. > :27:56.SNP and Lib-Dem MSPs have approved the Scottish Government's �30
:27:56. > :27:58.billion budget in a Holyrood vote, but Labour and the Tories voted