:00:20. > :00:24.Tonight on Reporting Scotland: the Scottish Government says its new
:00:24. > :00:29.budget is backing jobs and growth. The public-sector pay freeze ends
:00:30. > :00:39.and there is more cash for housing and schools. But opposition parties
:00:39. > :00:43.say that the Budget is passing the buck. Also: the sister of this
:00:43. > :00:51.woman killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan says she lost her life
:00:51. > :01:01.doing something she loved. course I'm worried, but it was her
:01:01. > :01:05.life and what she wanted to do. we examine a threat to the Scottish
:01:05. > :01:12.landscape. These trees have been felled in an attempt to reduce the
:01:12. > :01:22.impact of a disease across a much wider area. How scientists are
:01:22. > :01:30.tackling and the blight on at the native Caledonian pine. And the
:01:30. > :01:35.mass cot for the Scottish John Swinney described their
:01:35. > :01:41.spending plans in the Budget today as an investment in new, affordable
:01:41. > :01:50.houses and schools as -- in a bit to boost the Scottish economy and
:01:50. > :02:00.the construction sector. But Labour said he was passing the buck. We
:02:00. > :02:01.
:02:01. > :02:07.SST announcement and the impact. -- we assess. Paisley remain so proud
:02:07. > :02:13.town but signs of economic decline and everywhere. Roddy Morrison
:02:13. > :02:20.proudly shows me his shop. He had a larger furniture business until it
:02:20. > :02:26.went bust a year ago. I thought my head would explode. Three of my
:02:26. > :02:34.employees had been with me over 30 years. Most of the staff came here
:02:34. > :02:39.straight from school. It was a really hard time. John Swinney is
:02:39. > :02:44.focusing again and capital spending to boost business and jobs. He
:02:44. > :02:48.announced an extra �80 million to build schools, �40 million for
:02:48. > :02:53.affordable housing, and 30 million for insulation and energy
:02:53. > :03:03.efficiency. But Labour accused the finance secretary of impoverishing
:03:03. > :03:10.Scotland. These decisions have cost 30,000 public sector jobs over the
:03:10. > :03:18.last here alone. Yet the Finance Minister stands before us with no
:03:18. > :03:21.hint of humility and no apology. a result of partnerships with local
:03:21. > :03:27.government we're putting in money to make up for a cut in local
:03:27. > :03:31.council tax benefits. Local government has contributed. Finding
:03:31. > :03:40.solutions for the people of Scotland, not posturing alongside
:03:40. > :03:47.the Tories! After a public sector pay freeze there will be a 1% rise
:03:47. > :03:53.next year. Unions warned that the cash is not their. And John Swinney
:03:53. > :04:01.plans are making cuts in day-to-day spending. The Tories said he had
:04:01. > :04:10.ample funds. He has �2 million more than when he arrived in office yeti
:04:10. > :04:20.complaints about savage cuts. is time at. The Government to focus
:04:20. > :04:23.more on independence than economic growth. -- This is timid. Another
:04:23. > :04:32.million goes towards maintaining historic buildings and attracting
:04:32. > :04:39.tourists. Back in Paisley, the hawk it all works. It is a marvellous
:04:39. > :04:49.place to live. I am proud of coming from here. But you just need a life
:04:49. > :04:55.
:04:55. > :05:05.Obviously John Swinney hopes that the Budget will promote growth. Or
:05:05. > :05:05.
:05:05. > :05:10.We will start at the pay freeze, the slight thawing. That is bound
:05:10. > :05:16.to extend to government staff. It was calculated on the presumption
:05:16. > :05:20.that any increase would be held way down. There will be continuing real
:05:20. > :05:26.pay restraint. The unions are already unhappy about that. Council
:05:26. > :05:31.tax, households will benefit from an ongoing freeze but water charges
:05:31. > :05:39.will got from next spring. In tandem with R P I level, currently
:05:39. > :05:45.about 3%. John Swinney stresses, absolutely stresses, the support he
:05:45. > :05:50.has given to small companies through discounts. That, against a
:05:50. > :05:53.background of real economic gloom, globally, John Swinney remains
:05:53. > :06:03.adamant he has done everything possible to revitalise the economy
:06:03. > :06:04.
:06:04. > :06:09.and build growth. Will it work? I The budget is about setting
:06:09. > :06:14.priorities and whilst there are winners, others will face a squeeze.
:06:14. > :06:22.So where will the cuts hit home? How much longer will the squeeze
:06:22. > :06:28.We know there is a tax squeeze across the public sector, but when
:06:28. > :06:32.is it being felt most? Health is being protected. Other areas take
:06:32. > :06:37.more of the pain, including councils. After freezing pay and
:06:37. > :06:43.not replacing staff and making some easier cuts, local authority sea
:06:43. > :06:48.front line services will now pay the price. North Lanarkshire is
:06:48. > :06:54.amongst the first to set out what that could mean. One of Scotland's
:06:54. > :07:00.largest councils, setting out options. It must find �73 million
:07:00. > :07:10.over three years. Some options will be hard to sell, including merging
:07:10. > :07:11.
:07:11. > :07:21.schools and closing care homes. The cost of by rail to go up by 75%. In
:07:21. > :07:25.collections every three weeks. And Christmas lights could go dark.
:07:25. > :07:30.know we're in a depression and things are not as we want them to
:07:30. > :07:34.be. But it is confounded by having two government neither of whom came
:07:34. > :07:39.about local government or local people. Therefore we must address
:07:39. > :07:43.that as best we can. Our job is to guarantee be get the best service
:07:43. > :07:53.at the cheapest price. And maintaining as many jobs as we
:07:53. > :07:58.
:07:58. > :08:08.possibly can. Opinion as they read. -- is a varied. I do not like it at
:08:08. > :08:08.
:08:08. > :08:15.all. They're cutting in the wrong places. You need it all the
:08:15. > :08:25.services. People find it hard enough and the council should be
:08:25. > :08:27.
:08:27. > :08:31.darting front line services. -- carping. How far has holy writ
:08:31. > :08:37.reached during the austerity years? They peaked here was three years
:08:37. > :08:46.ago and the project at law. S four years from now. Spending power is
:08:46. > :08:56.due to fall. Next year's budget, announced today, will see one of
:08:56. > :08:59.
:08:59. > :09:03.the pack is cuts, 3%. -- one of the largest cuts. The deep cuts in
:09:03. > :09:08.capital spending - buildings and roads for instance - will need to
:09:08. > :09:13.be three-quarters achieved by their end of this year. But the resource
:09:13. > :09:17.budget that keeps services taking water, that is only around one
:09:18. > :09:27.third of the way through the cuts. There is no guarantee that a seven-
:09:28. > :09:31.
:09:31. > :09:35.year squeeze will be enough to turn Still to come: how scientists are
:09:35. > :09:38.battling and a blight on the native Caledonian pine. And in sport
:09:38. > :09:43.Celtic are confident of reaching the knockout stages of the
:09:44. > :09:51.Champions' League despite a drop last night. And Ricky in Barnes
:09:51. > :09:59.prepares for what has been hyped as the boxing battle pattern. --
:09:59. > :10:05.The sister of a woman killed and a suicide bomb said she knew the
:10:05. > :10:10.risks but was doing what she loved. Jeni Ayris was working in Kabul for
:10:10. > :10:14.12 months and died on Tuesday. Her sister, Patricia, said she was
:10:14. > :10:24.concerned about her safety, but respected her decision to travel to
:10:24. > :10:29.
:10:29. > :10:34.the country. Thousands of online tributes. A sister and best friend.
:10:34. > :10:40.Their grief comes in waves. That is the only way I can describe it. One
:10:40. > :10:50.minute I am fine, the next minute I am a wreck. But my sister has the
:10:50. > :10:52.
:10:52. > :10:57.most amazing friends. The response has been outstanding. Out standing.
:10:57. > :11:03.Born in South Africa, Jeni Ayris's life as an aid and a cafe owner was
:11:03. > :11:08.captured in a BBC documentary. -- higher life as a cafe or a. But
:11:08. > :11:18.well months ago she took a job in Kabul with an aircraft charter
:11:18. > :11:21.
:11:21. > :11:24.company. She said she was always juggling plates. And she did.
:11:24. > :11:29.just a couple of days before she was meant to return to Scotland the
:11:29. > :11:38.bus she was travelling in was targeted by a suicide bomber. 12
:11:38. > :11:42.people were killed and an insurgent group claimed responsibility.
:11:42. > :11:46.she left and what she said, they protected her as much as they
:11:46. > :11:52.possibly could, she could always have walked across the street in
:11:52. > :11:57.Edinburgh and been killed by a bus. There is no denying - yes, it is a
:11:57. > :12:07.war-torn country and of course we want it - but it was her life and
:12:07. > :12:09.
:12:09. > :12:15.what she wanted to do. The only thing I can think of at the moment
:12:15. > :12:25.as a memorial service instead of a funeral. I don't know. Then a party
:12:25. > :12:27.
:12:27. > :12:29.afterwards, because that is what At judge will fast track a case
:12:29. > :12:33.deciding whether the Scottish Government will have to reveal on
:12:33. > :12:36.whether it has received advice on the state is an independent
:12:37. > :12:46.Scotland in Europe. The Government refused a Freedom of Information
:12:46. > :12:52.request saying that to do so would Attempts are continuing to form
:12:52. > :12:58.identify a body recovered from a field in Perth Show. The remains
:12:58. > :13:01.are believed to be those of Adam Alexander, killed by Thomas Pryde
:13:01. > :13:11.in 1999. Thomas Pryde later confessed to his wife and showed
:13:11. > :13:12.
:13:12. > :13:15.police the field where he said he Scientists are working to reduce
:13:15. > :13:17.the spread of a disease which could threaten Scotland's native
:13:17. > :13:19.Caledonian pinewoods. Needle Blight is already affecting large areas of
:13:19. > :13:28.commercial forestry in the north. Here's our environment
:13:28. > :13:32.correspondent, David Miller. Need all like has, at cost. Large
:13:32. > :13:40.areas of commercial forestry are being fell than Scotland's native
:13:40. > :13:44.Caledonian pinewoods could be at risk. It thrives in relatively warm
:13:44. > :13:50.and humid conditions. Originally native to the southern hemisphere,
:13:50. > :13:56.we have been told it has spread northwards due to climate change.
:13:56. > :14:02.Scientists are working to limit its impact here. The concern at us that
:14:02. > :14:08.Scotch pine, one of her iconic native, for its, and they really
:14:08. > :14:15.are hour Crown Jewels. The loss of Caledonian pinewood would have far-
:14:15. > :14:21.reaching consequences for the many species which depend upon it. Until
:14:21. > :14:27.just last summer, the woodland here was home to the endangered caper
:14:27. > :14:29.KLA. As you can see, decrees on this hillside have been felt in an
:14:29. > :14:35.attempt to reduce the impact of this disease across a much wider
:14:35. > :14:39.area apples up trials of a real spraying are due to begin next year
:14:39. > :14:44.in an attempt to establish what fungicides could be used to limit
:14:44. > :14:48.the spread of the disease. The forest industry is following the
:14:48. > :14:53.developments closely. It is vital that we deal with all pests and
:14:53. > :14:57.diseases that are facing Forestry in order to stay one step ahead.
:14:57. > :15:03.the disease can be spread on shoes and clothing and walkers have been
:15:03. > :15:04.awarded the could be unwittingly carrying the disease to unaffected
:15:04. > :15:06.areas. Celtic football club is facing a
:15:06. > :15:09.Scottish Football Association charge over an alleged offensive
:15:10. > :15:12.banner displayed by fans in a pre- season friendly. The banner is
:15:13. > :15:17.understood to have featured a gunman shooting a figure next to a
:15:17. > :15:20.gravestone with the Rangers badge on it. The SFA says Celtic have
:15:20. > :15:25.fallen foul of the rules by failing to prevent fans from bringing the
:15:25. > :15:29.banner into the ground and displaying it.
:15:29. > :15:38.A look now at what else has been happening across the country this
:15:38. > :15:41.Thursday. Strathclyde Police say they've seized cash and assets
:15:41. > :15:44.valued at more than �18 million from organised crime gangs over the
:15:44. > :15:47.past year. They include a number of high-end cars, which will now be
:15:47. > :15:49.sold to provide cash for the government, the police, and to
:15:49. > :15:58.plough back into communities blighted by crime.
:15:58. > :16:02.They are fighting to pay their bills and meanwhile somebody drives
:16:02. > :16:06.past in one of those cars will start this is about as telling the
:16:06. > :16:11.public we're getting to grips with this. We have seized �18 million
:16:11. > :16:16.worth of Colonel assets this year including this stuff. Up three
:16:16. > :16:20.children aged 10 and 14 have been charged after tens of thousands of
:16:20. > :16:22.pounds worth of damage at a car dealership. Almost 30 cars were
:16:22. > :16:24.damaged in the incident in Aberdeen on Saturday.
:16:24. > :16:27.The decline of Scotland's rural pubs continues according to a
:16:27. > :16:32.survey. It found that more than 700 community pubs had closed in five
:16:32. > :16:35.years, with only 75 new ones opening. The economic downtown, the
:16:35. > :16:43.falling popularity of draft beer and less expensive alcohol at off-
:16:43. > :16:48.licences are all blamed. A rail station in the Highlands is
:16:48. > :16:51.to be rebuilt, more than 50 years after it closed. The halt at Conon
:16:51. > :16:54.Bridge in Ross-shire will be reinstated at a cost of �600,000 to
:16:54. > :17:04.encourage Inverness commuters out of their cars, ahead of major road
:17:04. > :17:04.
:17:04. > :17:09.works on the Kessock Bridge next year.
:17:09. > :17:13.It is imperative that the station opens because at the moment the
:17:13. > :17:17.road is so busy and it is going to be 10 times worse if the station
:17:17. > :17:19.does not open. The World Stone Skimming Championship, which was
:17:19. > :17:22.under threat, will now go ahead this weekend.
:17:22. > :17:25.A dispute over an insurance payment between the owners of the quarry
:17:25. > :17:29.where it's held and the organisers was settled at the last minute
:17:29. > :17:33.following a donation from a newspaper. And there are more
:17:33. > :17:42.stories from your area and all the latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC
:17:42. > :17:44.Scotland's website. Let's have a look at the sport now,
:17:44. > :17:47.with David. Celtic can qualify for the last 16
:17:47. > :17:51.of the Champions League group stages according to the players who
:17:51. > :17:54.opened their campaign with a draw against Benfica. No goals but Neil
:17:54. > :17:57.Lennon believes there was plenty to be upbeat about in his side's first
:17:57. > :18:07.match of the group stage. Here's our senior football reporter Chris
:18:07. > :18:09.
:18:09. > :18:14.McLaughlin. The famous music blared, and the
:18:14. > :18:20.fans brought. After four years, the Champions League was back in
:18:20. > :18:25.Glasgow. This audacious attempt was the closest Celtic came to scoring.
:18:25. > :18:31.They have plenty of possession but chances were few and far between.
:18:31. > :18:34.We are learning as we go long. The players have sampled it and 10
:18:34. > :18:38.players were it they are making their Champions League debut so I
:18:38. > :18:46.am very proud of them. Up the visitors believed they should have
:18:46. > :18:53.had a penalty in the first half and the player reinforces their claim.
:18:53. > :18:58.Celtic wanted a penalty in the second half. The fans screamed in
:18:58. > :19:02.hope but the referee was not having any of it. Celtic impressed and
:19:03. > :19:08.spells with Kris Commons proving a pest at times to the Portuguese
:19:08. > :19:14.defence but neither side could find a way through. No goals and the
:19:14. > :19:20.focus is still on the last 16. Nothing to lose now. I think we
:19:20. > :19:27.should get through to the next 16 and go for there. The next game is
:19:27. > :19:37.against Barcelona and it should be difficult from there. After the
:19:37. > :19:41.
:19:41. > :19:43.first match day, the group she One game, one. But plenty of
:19:43. > :19:46.positivity. Hearts say their coaching staff and players have now
:19:46. > :19:48.received the wages that were due earlier this week. The manager John
:19:48. > :19:51.McGlynn was among those who received their September salary
:19:51. > :19:55.late. Tomorrow the SPL board will discuss Hearts failure to pay their
:19:55. > :20:00.players on time. Possible sanctions for late payment of include a
:20:00. > :20:04.transfer embargo. Aberdeen's to host the Scottish
:20:04. > :20:07.Open golf in two years' time. The tournament will move to the Royal
:20:07. > :20:12.Aberdeen course in 2014 from its current home at Castle Stuart near
:20:12. > :20:22.Inverness. It'll be the first time a major European tour event has
:20:22. > :20:22.
:20:22. > :20:27.been held in the Granite City. are obviously very delighted and
:20:27. > :20:31.excited that the next 18 months will be a very exciting time for
:20:31. > :20:34.the club and Aberdeen, looking forward to a major European tour
:20:34. > :20:38.event coming to the city for the first time. Scotland's world boxing
:20:38. > :20:41.champion Ricky Burns has come face to face with the man who wants to
:20:41. > :20:44.take the title from him. It's not the first time Burns and
:20:44. > :20:46.Englishman Kevin Mitchell have met outside the ring. In fact, they are
:20:46. > :20:49.close friends. On Saturday though they'll be fierce rivals and it's
:20:49. > :20:57.emerged whoever wins will have a fight against a former Scottish
:20:57. > :21:07.World champ to look forward to. If you believe the promoters, that
:21:07. > :21:10.
:21:10. > :21:16.so as not just a world title fight, it's the Battle of Britain. All the
:21:17. > :21:23.hard work has been done and I am ready to go to war for 12 weeks. It
:21:23. > :21:30.is just an expression I am using. It's the Battle of Britain and I
:21:30. > :21:36.will win the battle. Hang on, these chaps are buddies. We have a beer
:21:36. > :21:42.with each other after words, it sport. A kiss on the cheek and a
:21:42. > :21:49.beer? I don't know about the Test and the beer but we probably will
:21:49. > :21:53.go back to being pals will sup at last from the past today. Still on
:21:53. > :22:01.the comeback trail after three years in prison, he's been lined up
:22:01. > :22:06.as the winner's next opponent. Whoever wins, I hope to fight them.
:22:06. > :22:12.At the end of the day, the sport is all about the fans and it will be a
:22:12. > :22:17.cracking fight for boxing. Burns's lines the Battle of Britain,
:22:17. > :22:21.we could have a Scottish skirmish to look forward to. I'm sure the
:22:21. > :22:26.promoters of think of something better!
:22:26. > :22:29.That is why I do not work in PR. Be honest, how many Games mascots
:22:29. > :22:33.do you remember? Can you even remember the most recent Olympic
:22:33. > :22:37.one? Well, the omens may not be good but the organisers of the
:22:37. > :22:40.Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are hoping we won't forget theirs. He's
:22:40. > :22:50.a thistle called Clyde, and he was unveiled this morning. Laura
:22:50. > :22:51.
:22:51. > :22:55.Maxwell has more. There he is, everybody! This is
:22:55. > :23:02.Clyde and he knows how to make an entrance. The cuddly Thistle is the
:23:02. > :23:05.latest addition to the team for Glasgow 2014. This is his creator,
:23:05. > :23:11.12-year-old pet Gilmour from Cumbernauld to be thousands of
:23:11. > :23:17.others to enter the BBC competition. I was so shocked I had won because
:23:17. > :23:24.it is such a big thing. I was so happy about his all and it is just
:23:24. > :23:29.great. It is great. Such a pleasant surprise and it represents class:
:23:29. > :23:34.Scotland so well. She has done such an amazing job. I do not think a
:23:34. > :23:41.professional could have designed a better one than that. Clyde
:23:41. > :23:47.represent Scotland's national flower. They seem to like him.
:23:47. > :23:54.like it, it looks friendly. Very Scottish looking. I would have a
:23:54. > :23:59.cuddly toy you can in my house. Although rarely remembered for long,
:23:59. > :24:04.my Scots play an important role and connecting people to an event. They
:24:04. > :24:09.are also crucial for revenue. have to raise �100 million from
:24:09. > :24:13.sponsorship, broadcasting rights, ticket sales and merchandise. The
:24:13. > :24:18.merchandise is the smallest part of all of that and we're 40% of the
:24:18. > :24:22.way there with two years ago. I think we will sell a lot of
:24:22. > :24:27.merchandise and this will be available for Christmas this year.
:24:27. > :24:31.Thistles are not usually cuddly but this chap is just a little bit
:24:31. > :24:35.different. He is a very busy boy as well. He is about to embark on a
:24:35. > :24:40.national tour to make sure everyone in Scotland gets involved with the
:24:40. > :24:50.games as much as people in Glasgow. Let's see how the weather is
:24:50. > :24:52.
:24:52. > :24:55.Very wet and windy for some across central and southern Scotland.
:24:55. > :25:02.Rearrange should start to ease away although we should have a few more
:25:02. > :25:05.hours to come so far. The brighter colours indicate the heavier
:25:05. > :25:12.downpour but it will clear away with the I E skies across much of
:25:12. > :25:16.the country. The central belt is down to around 4 Celsius but
:25:16. > :25:20.further north that could be down to around freezing. The pay-off is
:25:20. > :25:25.that tomorrow will be a dry and bright start with some sunshine
:25:25. > :25:30.although Chile. Through the day, the cloud will move further south
:25:30. > :25:37.with showers becoming a little more widespread. Generally, not too bad
:25:37. > :25:43.with plenty of bright spells around. Further north towards Angus, that
:25:43. > :25:50.is where we run into a risk of showers. Cold if you are open to
:25:50. > :25:54.that north-westerly breeze and highs for some just 10 Celsius. The
:25:54. > :25:59.rest of the afternoon into the evening, some late sunshine and
:25:59. > :26:02.another cold night into Saturday. It will be another lovely day with
:26:02. > :26:08.plenty of fine weather and lots of sunshine and later winds and
:26:08. > :26:12.temperatures up to 13 Celsius. That is courtesy of the say they are
:26:12. > :26:17.high pressure but if you look at the Atlantic, the saviour of low-
:26:18. > :26:23.pressure as the remains of a hurricane. It is not coming our way
:26:23. > :26:26.but this they are of low pressure will be coming our way. Because it
:26:26. > :26:33.is topical where it is difficult to predict what it will do so we will
:26:33. > :26:39.keep an eye on it. It is all to play for. We're putting our money
:26:39. > :26:44.on the high pressure sticking around for Sunday. Saturday and
:26:44. > :26:47.shandy should be fine and bright. Things could get wet and windy
:26:47. > :26:50.Things could get wet and windy later on and probably the same for
:26:50. > :26:53.Monday. Now, just before 7pm, a summary of tonight's top stories. A
:26:53. > :26:55.budget for jobs and growth is how the Finance Secretary John Swinney
:26:55. > :26:58.described his �28 billion spending plans. He's to invest in building
:26:58. > :27:03.affordable houses and schools to boost the construction industry and
:27:03. > :27:06.the economy. Opposition parties say it is a pass
:27:06. > :27:08.the buck budget. Police investigating the deaths of two of
:27:08. > :27:11.their colleagues in Greater Manchester have appealed to two
:27:11. > :27:20.criminal families in the community to end their feuding, saying
:27:20. > :27:22."enough is enough." An inquest into the death of the former Russian spy
:27:22. > :27:25.Alexander Litvinenko will examine claims that the Russian government
:27:25. > :27:29.was involved. Mr Litvinenko, who was a British citizen, died after