21/03/2012 Reporting Scotland

Tonight on Reporting Scotland: bills and budgets - more tax

raising and borrowing powers for Holyrood after the UK and Scottish

governments reach agreement. Meanwhile Dundee's computer games

industry gets a boost from the Chancellor - we'll have full

An investigation's launched at NHS Lothian after management are

accused of manipulating waiting times to meet targets.

My reaction to this report is disappointment and anger.

Also tonight: taking to the roads - but the daily commute by bicycle

can be a terrifying experience for some cyclists. Campaigners want

speed limits lowered to 20 miles an hour in built-up areas. And is this

how you pick up a penguin? We've been to Edinburgh Zoo as they move

A deal has been struck between Holyrood and Westminster

governments that was the Holyrood handed more powers over taxation of.

The Scotland Bill will give the Scottish Government additional

control over income tax and the power to borrow money. Brian Taylor

is in Holyrood. This is a deal politically and in

terms of substance. The substance is well worth having. It will bring

powers to Holyrood. Politically, they reckon the voters will be

puzzled and confused if they had seen the SNP turning down more

powers for Scotland. What would Robert the Bruce may covet all?

Living History on display. Today's package falls short of nationalist

demands but ministers say it is historic. The biggest transfer of

power. We have a packet of measures that will enhance the

accountability of the Scottish Parliament and the two governments

working together have to get on and implement this. Holyrood has tax

powers but they have proved to be too limited. Under the new deal, 10

pence worth of income tax standard and upper rates will be devolved.

They can increase tax and have more to spend. They can cut tax and have

less to spend all leave well alone. For the first time, Holyrood will

be able to borrow money within limits. UK ministers will consort

over whether Holyrood can issue its own bonds. Concessions, the Lib Dem

leader at Holyrood says a wasted time and effort pressing for more.

They are either of the worst no good CAA tis all they dashed their

plans crumbled under pressure. tax powers main blocks in the grant

and a sympathetic formula will be used and nothing will change

without agreement on both sides. The bill means new powers for

Holyrood over air weapons. Also drink-drive and national speed

limits and the aggregate levy. believe we should have more powers

on the economy, to help us grow jobs in Scotland. There are some

gains in terms of the day evolution of powers like drink-driving and

air guns. In terms of the substantial issues around the

financial matters, that can only be taken forward by agreement. This is

the Holy Rood Mace, the symbol of parliamentary power. Those powers

will be announced in future. The SNP wish it to be transformed by

independence. Where do we go next with this?

I expect this will go through Westminster with Holyrood giving up

the green light. After that, these powers will be implemented step-by-

step and borrowing pyre was as long -- as early as next year. As one

nationalist said to me, 2016, we will be independent and by then.

Now to London and David Porter. How did it go down with you? The House

of Lords behind me is discussing the Scotland Bill tonight and they

have been discussing it for some time. This Bill began its passage

in 20th November 10. They are now keen to get it on the statute. It

will be significant to Holyrood and people down here want to see it on

the statute book as soon as possible. Their reasoning is if we

are going to give Holyrood more powers, it is up to them to act on

that. Those who have been behind the process to seek Holy Rood have

more powers believe today is significant. They say they are

pleased that the SNP has come on board. A climbdown for them. We

voted for it, they voted against it. We have seen sense and done

something constructive for Scotland. This will be a big transfer.

Originally suggested by Labour, this is a big step in the power of

Scotland, making sure the parliament is strong and making --

this is the best way forward. Scotland Bill will become an act

very shortly but already, some people are saying they think it is

out of date. The elephant in the room a politically, air is still

that political referendum. There is also something else happening in

Westminster. As a result, there is a tax cut coming for more than 2

million Scots as the level at which tax starts to be paid is raised by

more than �1,000. It was one of the changes in the Budget. Several

others will be less welcome than tax cuts but there are measures to

help the economy in certain parts and sectors of Scotland. Douglas

Fraser is here. If you pay tax, the chances are

your bill is coming down next year. Instead of starting to pay tax at

your first �8,100, that tax-free element is going up to 9200. The UK

Government that says -- says that should affect 2.1 million Scots.

Not so good if you are a pensioner. You are paying a lot of the price

by a freeze on allowances. Not so good if you are a motorists. Fuel

duty is still rising. If you are a smoker, 37p more on a packet of

cigarettes. There's more money added on to alcohol and for

gamblers and those with a weakness for takeaway food. Well there is --

well they still a big chill in the economy, at this indoor ski centre,

they are not impressed. Very disappointed. At times of economic

challenge, you need leadership and leaders set clear objectives and

that has not happened. The Offshore Industry get help and tax on

decommissioning on that North Sea equipment. It goes a long way to

repair the damage. When I travel overseas, they talk to me about the

fact that UK North Sea has seen three tax increases. The signal

that this sense is that where industry get together with one

voice and engage with Government, it can have a sensible conversation

and sensible outcome. Dundee is one of the hot spots for computer games

to get tax breaks. It is a successful industry and we are on a

level footing with other countries and are able to grow as the games

industry is on the cusp of massive growth based around mobile and

social gaming. At this fabrication yard, they are getting extra

support. We will offer enhanced capital allowances for new

businesses setting up in Dundee. Holyrood gets �20 million more to

spend over three years and there are measures to boost growth.

Budget measures aren't going to affect how the economy performs

over the next couple of years. What the Chancellor has said, is that he

has to stick to this course and if he doesn't, interest rates go up

and there would be damaging to the economy. It is a difficult few

years ahead. Businesses are still overburdened with complex tax

systems. Every year it gets more complicated. What we heard in the

speech is the tip of the iceberg. Further complications. If you are a

high earner, your top rate tax is on the way down but watch out for

big stamp duty bills when you buy your next mansion.

Still to come: Is this how you pick up a penguin? We have been to

Edinburgh Zoo for the big move. In sport, is the SPL heading for

civil war over voting rights and can Dunfermline's new books -- boss

has a chance for his team. The Scot has come it is be accused

of a U-turn in implementation of its flagship education policy.

Individual schools will be allowed to delay exam courses based on the

controversial curriculum for excellence for a year.

The focus is on the future of 54,000 pupils in second gear.

Pioneers of a new curriculum and exams. Teachers say students may

not do as well as they should because changes have been poorly

planned. The education minister has agreed to let some schools delay

but insisted it isn't necessary. don't think there will be need for

delay. I want to provide enough for support and help to make sure the

question of delay does not occur. The size of the help package is

�3.5 million. The aim is to tackle problems. Under the new curriculum,

staff have to make up their own lessons and that has led to claims

that each teacher will be reinventing the wheel. A key

concession in this deal is that staff will have course materials to

help them. But, they won't come until next year. Too late for the

many schools that want to teach exam courses from the summer. In

the long term, course materials may make the difference and let's not

forget a critical extra concession by union leaders. Bays the

opportunity to use intermediates for another year. -- there is the

opportunity. Putting the new national exams on ice for a year,

doing intermediate exams instead. Some say, no way. They have waited

a long time for this. We are taking on board the work in primary

schools. Peoples should not move back a year. If the course

materials wanted -- would be available for one of the year, a

delay has an appeal. Some schools Patients being treated by NHS

Lothian have waited longer than they should have for treatment

because the health board has been fiddling the system. An independent

investigation has found people waiting for operations were taken

off the waiting list when they refused to be treated in England,

often at short notice. The health minister, Nicola Sturgeon, says

she's shocked and extremely angry. Our Health Correspondent Eleanor

Bradford joins us now from Edinburgh.

Pretty damning comment -- criticisms. What has been going on?

Something so embarrassing that NHS Lothian would not even let us

broadcast from their land tonight, so we are just outside their

grounds. At the end of last year, reports surfaced that patients were

being offered appointments in England, but sometimes at short

notice. When those patients so they could not make those appointments,

there were marked down as unavailable and taken off waiting

lists. It was basically a fiddle, meaning that NHS Lothian could

appear to meet waiting time targets, when in fact patients were waiting

as long as ever. Today, an official investigation found that the

problem went right to the top of senior management. The auditors,

Price Waterhouse Coopers, said there was an atmosphere here of

finding tactical solutions to waiting time issues, rather than

real solutions. It is a situation that the health minister has called

completely acceptable. Earlier, we asked the chief executive of NHS

Lothian whether he took responsibility. The management

culture you refer to is in relation to waiting times. If you read the

report, you will see that part of that culture was the difficulty

that people showed in highlighting information and bringing it all

away up to the top of the management tree to be dealt with.

At the end of the day, I am accountable for NHS Lothian, and so

I am accountable for that ultimately. I am appalled by it and

I pledge to address it. Do we know how many people have been affected?

No, and this report says that we will probably never know unless

someone does through the waiting time and the records of every

single patient. There is one way you can chat. -- check. Waiting

times were simplified at the beginning of the year and now no

one should wait longer than 18 weeks for treatment from the time

you were referred by your GP. Tesco has failed in a bid to stop

the building of an Asda store on the side of an old factory in

Dundee. It is the latest in a series of court battles involving

the two Cant -- companies. Record attendances at the Aberdeen

Art Gallery has led to an announcement of two evening

openings to allow more people to see the show.

The coastguard tug serve in the Northern Isles has been saved at

the 11th hour. It is to remain on station until the end of March

until a new agreement can be reached with the oil industry.

Justice secretary was in Glasgow to launch the power skills programme.

The scheme will be direct money stripped from criminals to help

young people access apprenticeships. The Black Watch Museum Trust has

been given the green light to go ahead with a �3.5 million revamp of

the centre. The final money raised is from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We have a lot of art to that's up in the loft. From an environmental

point of view, that is not the right place. These things need to

be protected for the next 300 years. Pioneering research to develop new

medicines for diseases such as cancer from deep-sea marine

organisms were showcased by scientists at Aberdeen University's

Marine Centre. The committee Trust which bought

the North Harris estate in the Outer Hebrides has opened and

observed a tree to help visitors spot of golden eagles. It is hoped

the project will boost eco-tourism. There is more on those and other

stories on the BBC Scotland website. The Chief Constable of Scotland's

biggest police force says he has no doubt that some people in the

forced leaked information for money. Strathclyde has investigated for

for -- 45 possible leaks in the last five years, most involving

celebrities. The Leveson Inquiry was told that bribery was rare, but

admitted it would be naive to say it did not happen. I have no doubt

that there are specific individuals in my organisation who are in

receipt of money from various people. I am not suggesting it is

individual newspapers. Various people who are looking for exactly

the sort of information we have just been discussing - celebrities

coming into police custody. Campaigners are calling for lower

speed limits in Scotland's towns and cities, in a bid to reduce the

number of cyclists being killed and seriously injured. It follows the

deaths of four cyclists in Edinburgh in the last year. Our

transport correspondent, David Miller, reports.

Life can be tough if you are a cyclist on Scotland's roads. As the

video from this helmet mounted camera shows. So, could lower speed

limits make our streets safer for everyone? Edinburgh is already

trialling a 20 mph limits. The city council says more than 70% of local

people are in favour of the move. Lower speed limits were on the

agenda at a cycle safety summit held in Edinburgh. Among those

attending, a campaigner who backs lower limits because he has seen

the impact of crashers at first hand. I have seen some very sad

accidents with people who have been crushed or trapped under buses, and

had to have extensive reconstructive surgery to survive.

New lanes like this one in Glasgow are also seen as the way ahead. The

Scottish government accepts the need for change, but says our roads

are already getting safer for cyclists. Cycling safety in

Scotland is very good. In Edinburgh, it was 1930 since we last had

figures as good as theirs. In Glasgow, it was the 1920s. But what

about cyclists themselves? Calls a day for reckless cyclists to face

new penalties. Drivers can be sent on courses if they drive badly. I

think cyclist should be sent on retraining courses if they cycle

aggressively. There were speed limits, better infrastructure - we

are set to hear a lot more about cycle safety as we can down to a

protest last -- next month at Holyrood.

The SPL clubs have called a meeting to change the voting structure in

the SPL which could have wide- ranging repercussions for the lead.

Firstly, what is going on, and why could this be so important? Well,

as you say, this is a breaking story and a story with huge

implications. The Scottish Premier League made up of 12 teams, the

current voting structure is 11-1. The teams outside Celtic and

Rangers believe it is in favour of the old firm and they are

determined to change that. They have decided to hold a special

meeting on 12th April to see if they can force a change to that

voting structure. My understanding is that Celtic and Rangers are not

happy about this, Celtic in particular who believe that they

generate around 85% of the SPL's revenue, so they should have the

majority of the say. Other clubs disagree with that. It is also

suggested that the proposed bidders, proposed new owners for Rangers,

would also be unhappy with any new potential voting structure, and

that may well have an impact on the sale of the club. Better still to

be confirmed. Celtic and Rangers are not happy. There will be a

special meeting on 12th April to discuss this and tried to break the

11-1 voting ratio. This is a story that has huge implications. It will

run and run. The new Dunfermline manager Jim

Jefferies says he can keep the club in the Premier League this season.

The former Hearts and Kilmarnock boss has agreed a 15-month contract

at East End Park. But Jim has just eight matches to fix it and save

the Pars from relegation this season.

Is this the man to save done Vernon from relegation? He has been given

the gig, but can Jim'll Fix It? is a tough situation to come into,

but the challenge is there. If I didn't think that there was an

opportunity to give it a go and stay in the league, then I would

not have taken the job. Now then, now then, they have been giving

goals away all season. Disastrous defending! Can Jim fix that little

problem? When you look at some of the eclipse and the decision-making,

you think somebody is being too clever. You have got to deal with

it. The powers have the worst home record in that league. Not an easy

fix, but can Jim do it? We need to go and get that result. We need a

massive lift and the his supporters and players will take great heart

from it. They will start believing again. Jim's first game in charge

is at home to St Mirren on Saturday. Maybe after that we will have a

clearer idea if Jim it really can St Mirren have got a game tonight.

The pesticide is at home tonight. The previous diet was a thrilling

2-2 draw. The players have been fantastic throughout the course of

the season. We had a poor result on Saturday, a poor performance, and

it is something we have to improve on 100% if we are to reach his

semi-final. The match will be live on BBC Radio Scotland and on mine.

Kick-off is at 7:45pm. Thank you, David. Animal

transportation can be a tricky business. You may remember the

specially modified cargo plane that brought pandas from China. Today,

Ed and Brazil had to move some other animals. -- Edinburgh Zoo.

Penguins, it seems, are much like humans when it comes to moving

house. Today there was a bit of shouting, a bit of flapping, but in

the end, could they have been more ready? Apparently not. This is the

culmination of several weeks of frantic activity and busy keepers.

We are moving 29 of our penguins up to a new Enclosure so we can work

on the pool in the main enclosure. When I came to transport to the new

home, the penguins did not have a cargo plane, but they were well

provided for, each with its own personal human transport solution.

Complete with uninterrupted views to the rear. The easiest way is to

physically pick the birds up and carry them. The staff are well

versed in manual handling of the birds for veterinary purposes and

so on. And here they are in their new temporary home, while their own

pool is renovated. This seemed an automatic -- altogether more

colourful place, and they settled in with a cooling shower. It is

thought they will take 24 hours to become acclimatised to what is to

be their new home for the next two months.

Let's hope they will be further inconvenienced by some warmer

It was more like summer than spring today. 18 degrees in Aberdeen. If

you have got the Budget blues, I may just have the tonic for you.

Plenty of sunshine in the forecast for a change. It will stay dry at

night, but it will be chilly, especially under clearing skies.

Even in towns and cities, Deborah just down to two or three degrees.

-- temperatures. They could be a touch of frost. The west coast

always milder with wins falling light. Tomorrow, dry, settled and

bright with plenty of sunshine on offer. Some cloud to start off with,

but that burning back as we had towards the afternoon. Elsewhere, a

different story entirely. Across the south and South West, up to 16

Celsius with a light breeze. Nine Celsius on the east coast.

Elsewhere, not too bad atoll, and the cloud eventually leaving the

northern isles. So, the East Coast - towards the end of the afternoon

and into the evening, low cloud or mist rolling in off the North Sea.

Away from the east coast, tomorrow looks pretty good indeed. We hold

on to those settled conditions as we head into the evening. We give

with 1 we take with the other. Friday - a bit of a haircut. We

have a feature working northwards, which means that cloud will be

thicker compared with tomorrow, and there will be some showers,

primarily for the South West. The best of the sunshine into Caithness

and Sutherland. Into the weekend, and we are back on board with the

dry, settled conditions. The best of the sunshine will be in the West,

with the east coast having another cloudy day with low cloud or mist

rolling in. That high pressure is staying with us for Saturday and in

two Sunday as well. Looking good for both days this weekend, and of

course, everything is just that bit better in the sunshine.

The main news: Holyrood will gain new tax and borrowing powers as

part of a deal struck between the Scottish and UK government. And,

George Osborne has delivered what he calls a Budget for working