14/11/2013 Reporting Scotland

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: Police Scotland face a "challenge"

to make its promised savings of ?1 billion, according to the spending

watchdog. Workers at Scottish shipyards have

heard details of the plans to cut 800 jobs at BAE systems. Union

leaders say every part of the workforce will be affected.

We are in for a bumpy ride. I made no mistake in telling the workforce

that. Also on tonight's programme: are we

all agreed? It's official - the Scottish

Parliament has passed the legislation to allow next year's

referendum to go ahead. Painted on a Scottish holiday by LS

Lowry, the Steps at Wick could fetch up to ?800,000 at auction.

And we meet the Commonwealth Games athlete who wasn't allowed to do PE

at school. Scotland spending watchdog has said

it would be challenging for the single police force to achieve the

savings set out. It follows a power struggle between the chief constable

and the chairman of the body set up to oversee the force.

It is widely agreed the public notice a few effects of the move to

a single police force but ministers pledged amalgamation would save ?1.1

billion by 2026. Cannot be achieved? That was the question asked by the

spending watchdog, their report suggests a lack of information and

disagreements between the chief constable and the police authority

have hampered that. It makes achieving the savings that much more

difficult and it is very important now the tensions have been resolved

for the government, the authority and police Scotland to agree a

financial strategy to make sure it is underpinned by details and make

sure it is delivered in practice. One of these problems they spark

more than here. In August 2012 Vic Emery was appointed to chair the

Scottish police authority and the more than here. In August 2012 Vic

Emery was appointed to chair next month the chief constable and him

argued about who would run the police service. An argument still

going on on April the 1st when the new force came into being. It forced

the government to intervene. The police authority denies it was a

dysfunctional relationship. We had lots of issues moving forward

in creating a single police force, our focus was on maintaining the

police to get us through to day one, which was the 1st of April, and we

did that successfully. Budget savings for this financial year are

on track but audit Scotland says there is no agreed strategy for

savings beyond that and the office block the police authority is to

move into remains empty costing ?130,000 per year. The police say

they are examining all the options. There are a number of options, and

we need to discuss that determine what is best moving forward. We do

not have a lockdown plan for the three-year project to time period,

but the work is underway to deliver that. Audit Scotland says the

government must learn lessons from the police when other public bodies

carry out mergers. You may need as say every part of

the work force at Scottish shipyards will be hit. There were mass

meetings here and Portsmouth. As work on giant aircraft carriers

winds down the BAE Systems workforce were told last week 800 jobs are to

go, quarter of them. Following talks between unions and management this

week they went to work this morning to find out more details. They heard

this will be spread over three years, all departments affected,

nearly 190 likely to go in the next three months and more than half of

them in 2015. Following two redundancy begins on Monday. It is a

sad day for jobs to be cut. Just for this year coming, they have got rid

of all the painters. Very disappointed. We expected quite a

large number of people, we thought it would be, but some of the

Department of devastated. People going in every department. We just

saw John, give going. We will all stay unified and keep dignified. We

are in for a bumpy ride, I made a mistake in telling the workforce

that. To challenge their resilience and their commitment.

Union leaders are advising workers to stay focused on the job in hand.

They have got to finish the aircraft carrier, they have got to build

three offshore patrol vessels and that should type downloader -- type

-- tide them over. It is a different story of protest tonight in

Portsmouth. 940 jobs are going, all of the next year, the shipyard is to

close as work transfers to Scotland. On the south coast there is anger,

on the Clyde there is resolved. You are watching Reporting

Scotland, still to come, against all odds the female meerkat that

survived the fatal fire gives birth to two pups.

In sport, Gordon Strachan is talking ideas, find out why he doesn't want

a revolution for the national team and get the reflections of Juergen

Klinsmann ahead of tomorrow's international.

MSP 's have tonight unanimously voted to pass the bill setting out

the rules for the referendum on Scottish in the. Nicola Sturgeon

said it was historic legislation which would ensure a robust and fair

referendum. There was consensus that earlier there was about over which

currency and independent Scotland would use.

For these early Christmas shoppers it is all about choice. I think this

would go with more. Some choices are tougher than others, but to day

MSPs will ensure you have one more. The referendum Bill sets out

detailed rules to ensure that choice is fair and valid. Nicola Sturgeon

invited Parliament to endorse the package. We can be proud today we

are passing legislation that will put Scotland's future into

Scotland's hands. Opposition MSPs agreed. The time has come for this

question to be settled. And so we know the date and the rules are laid

down, but that consensus only extends so far. Today brought a row

over currency. A currency union with the rest of the UK cannot be stated

in advance as definite fact Labour said that contradicted SNP

insurances. Isn't it the case the first Minister doesn't want to give

the people of Scotland the truth because its case doesn't add up. The

first Minister insisted it would see both sides of the border to agree a

sterling zone. There is argument for the Stirling area, and Scotland is

England's second biggest customer. More argument to come, much more.

Not least in a fortnight with the White Paper setting out independence

plans. Tonight, consensus over referendum rules. Are we all agreed?

Yes. The motion is therefore agreed to in the Scottish impediment spill

is now past. It is onto the white paper and currency will not be the

only area they want a UK link. They want Scottish broadcasting service

based on the assets of BBC Scotland but they may look at the idea of a

collaborative arrangement with the rest of the BBC which would involve

retaining the television licence fee.

The BBC has learned for Scottish international rugby players are to

be -- are to appear in court in connect share with alleged serious

assault charges will stop Ryan Grant, Sean Maitland, Ryan Wilson

and Rory Hughes. They are contracted to Glasgow Warriors. The charges

relate to an incident in October in Glasgow's West End. Ryan Grant and

Sean Maitland or in the Scotland squad to face South Africa at

Murrayfield on Sunday. These are asking for help after a

woman was attacked at gunpoint and sexually assaulted in her home near

Shotts in North Lanarkshire. The attacker made off with the stolen

black BMW which was found outside the village later that morning.

Police have been stopping motorists to ask them if they remember seeing

anyone on the morning of September the 5th. We hope to jog people 's

memories, as to whether they have seen that car left their, and

looking for a particular individual as being between five at eight and

five or ten, stocky build, potbelly. I am by our reporter.

September this happened, why has it taken so long?

Please have decided to go public with his appeal because they have

exhausted all other lines of enquiry -- police. They have no idea who

carried out this attack. She was in her farm on the 5th of September,

about 8:30am, when this man entered her house, threatened her with a

gun, tied her up, demanded money then sexually assaulted her before

he made off in a stolen car. Police say although this has been a

terrifying ordeal for the woman involved and it was a very

disturbing attack they want to reassure people this kind of thing

is extremely rare and they are working on the theory is attacker

had specifically targeted this farm when he carried out the attack. They

are asking for anybody in the village who may have seen the car to

contact them and could hold vital information.

A bill to give terminally ill people in Scotland the legal right to

assisted suicide has been launched in the Scottish Parliament. It is

the second time the Independent MSP Margo MacDonald has tried to change

the law. The public face of the campaign for

assisted suicide in Scotland is Margam Donald. The MSP who has

Parkinson's disease once the terminally ill and those with

degenerative conditions to have the right to seek medical help to end

their lives. This is giving the choice of ending

their life for people who have a degenerative condition that cannot

be fixed . Some people have a dreadful and, not peaceful,

dignified and they feel awful. Some desperate patients travel to

Switzerland where it is already illegal to help somebody down.

Holyrood threw out assisted suicide legislation in 2010. When she bought

similar proposals to Parliament three years ago MSPs firmly rejected

the legislation but there has been an election since then and she

believes if there is a genuinely free vote this time her assisted

suicide Bill has a much better chance of passing this time round.

We are probably there now. She has support from individuals in all

political parties, some medical professionals and at least one

clergyman. Being at the bedside of somebody suffering intolerable is

ghastly for the individual, the family, and we have the means to

bring that to a close at the individual 's request. Where is the

morality in prolonging the suffering for days, weeks was to mark I don't

understand that. Faith groups including the Kirk and the Catholic

Church are among the leading opponents. It is an abandonment of

people. I know people feel they are in desperate situations, we have two

offer them hope, caring, and it is too dangerous for all of society if

we say there are some people who are better off dead.

The British Medical Association is also formally against changing the

law. The assisted suicide Bill will be debated and voted on next year.

Other stories from across Scotland this Thursday.

Political tensions at Aberdeen City Council are affecting the

decision-making process, according to a report by Audit Scotland. The

watchdog described some of the behaviour in the council chamber as

disrespectful. The authority is run by a Labour, Conservative and

Independent coalition. Floral tributes have been placed

near the spot where a 17-year-old girl died, after being hit by a

lorry in Dumfries and Galloway. The accident happened at around five

o'clock yesterday evening on West Morton Street in Thornhill.

Electric bikes could become a common sight on the streets of Inverness,

as part of a scheme to transform transport. An e-bike rental scheme

is to be launched and Highland Council has plans to build a cycle

lane network across the city. A landowner has offered to end a

legal battle with his tenants over ownership of his estate on Lewis.

Residents of the Park Estate have been pursuing a compulsory purchase

of the area. The crofters have now been offered almost all the land in

a deal that would see the court case dropped.

A 21-gun salute has been fired from Edinburgh Castle to mark the 65th

birthday of the Duke of Rothesay. The tradition is used to mark

significant Royal anniversaries. Crowds gathered to watch gunners

from the Royal Artillery commemorate Prince Charles's big day.

Incredibly important, but today is a special day and it is a beautiful

day in Scotland and the perfectly to mark his birthday. And there are

more stories from your area and all the latest news, 24 hours a day on

BBC Scotland's website. He's probably best known for his

industrial landscapes of north-west England, and his distinctive style

of painting human figures as matchstick men. Now one of LS

Lowry's pictures, which he painted while on holiday in Wick in the

1930s, is about to be auctioned. The Steps at Wick is expected to fetch

around ?800,000, when it goes on sale in London next week. Craig

Anderson reports. The Steps At Wick, a relatively

small painting of the far north fishing town painted by LS Lowry. It

is characteristic of his naive, almost childlike painting style but

since his death his works have become increasingly popular and

pricey. Probably his most popular Scottish subject was the docks in

Glasgow. He painted wall or five that we know of of that particular

subjects. Scottish paintings by LS Lowry are skiers so when they appear

at auction because huge interest. Auctioneers expect The Steps At Wick

to sell for between half a million and ?800,000. Not to this match the

reputation of this tone, but you cannot see why these fears would

have -- you can see why this would have got the imagination of an

artist used to painting bleak landscapes, but what was he doing in

this tone? We don't know very much about why he came. The local Rome or

was he had a relative but we have never been able to prove that. --

local rumour. He said holiday in Scotland that may have been

attracted. There's some surprise locally at it is the town on the

map. People have been coming over the summer months and asking where

the steps are! The painting goes under the hammer next week.

Let's get the sport now, from David. Gordon Strachan's been talking about

his plans for the national football team.

He says it's about evolution, not revolution. Tomorrow night they play

the United States in a friendly - they're preparing for next summer's

world cup. But what's tomorrow's match about for the Scots - here's

our senior football reporter Alasdair Lamont.

It has been billed as redemption. 18 months ago, Scotland where defeated

5-1 by the USA, but what has changed? There was something

definitely lacking at the start of the campaign, no doubt about it.

Gordon has come in and we seem to be more organised than the players are

buying into what he is putting out there. These last few qualifiers

have been fantastic. The quest for improvement continues apace but he

will not be trying anything revolutionary. Changing things about

might be a bit confusing but if we have one or two mac systems we can

rely on, that is what we are looking for. We don't have enough time to

set out a new style of play. Jurgen Klinsmann has brought his own

style to the USA and it has been successful but the Americans do not

expect a repeat of the 5-1 mauling. We were any different place so we do

not that result the way it looked like. We knew they came with the

different setup and tomorrow night we expect a game eye to eye. We know

Scotland at any given moment can beat us. That would provide Scotland

with the redemption the seat. -- the seat. Glasgow 2014 will have

more events for athletes with disabilities then any previous

Commonwealth Games. Meggan Dawson Farell from Alloa hopes to win a

medal in one of the 22 para-sport events. She was born with spina

bifida and at one point wasn't allowed to do PE at school. Our

games reporter Jane Lewis has her story. Meggan will compete in the T

54 class at Glasgow 2014 and she is aiming for a podium finish. Meggan

has already secured her place in team Scotland yet a few years ago

that seemed an unlikely achievement. In primary, I never got PE at all. I

fell over one time and that was it. They would not let me do it again

because it was too much of a hassle and health and save the... Thanks to

mum, all that changed. She took Meggan to a sports camp and has seen

her daughter transformed herself into a world-class athlete. Her life

isn't going to be constantly hampered by health issues and to

have something that will drive owners are blessing. As the holder

of Scottish records over multiple distances, you would not bet against

Meggan realising her dreams next summer as long as she remembers one

thing. My cupcakes and my idols. It is my

superstition, having odd socks on. -- owls.

And you can hear more from Meggan and some of Scotlands other para

athletes in Sport Nation tomorrow night on BBC Two Scotland at half

past seven. Now, a look at what else is

happening across Scottish sport. South Africa say they respect

Scotland so much they've only made five changes to the team that beat

Wales last week for the test match against the Scots on Sunday.

Every game against Scotland is very tough and we have a lot of respect

for them. We have not changed the whole team.

Scott Jamieson and Craig Lee are the top Scots at the world tour golf

championship in Dubai. That's not them, that's the leader Alejandro

Canizares of Spain. His opening round 67 shots better than each of

theirs. Stevie May is the Premiership's

player of the month for October. He's in the Scotland under-21 team

to play Georgia tonight. World number one and defending

champion Paul Foster is through to the semis of the Scottish

International Open bowls. He beat fellow Scot Wayne Hogg by two sets

to nil. You cannot say I'm going to win this because it is full of class

players but I am in the semifinal and playing great and cannot ask for

more than that. And there are more sports stories

plus all the latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC Sport Scotland's website.

Back to you. Keepers at a zoo in West Lothian are celebrating an

unexpected arrival, after discovering that their female

Meerkat has given birth. Six months ago, the Five Sisters Zoo in West

Calder was badly damaged in a fire which destroyed the animals

enclosure. But two days ago a pair of cubs were discovered. Lisa

Summers reports. They are known for their curiosity

but this female meerkat has good reason to be on the lookout. She

gave birth to two mac pups just a few weeks ago. The arrival into the

world was a surprise to keepers. It is very young and it looked like its

eyes had not been open for a long and on Monday we saw them for the

first time. Six months ago, the meerkat enclosure was badly damaged

in a fire. Only three survived but it clearly did not take long for

them to settle down. It is the beginning of winter and there is

lots of work to do but to see those faces is very special. There are

gender will not be known for another few months than the keepers are

looking for suggestions for names. They are still very nervous and

scared. It is daunting for them so they are relying heavily on mum and

dad and other group members for protection. The adults will take

them bits of food and show them what to eat. Time to learn the ropes from

their parents even if it is a bit chilly finding your feet.

It was lovely today. Plenty of sunshine but it will not last.

Lovely scenes across much of the country with showers in the North

fading away and clouds will be moving in and across eastern areas,

the skies remain clear so chilly across ruble parts of Aberdeenshire.

-- ruble parts. Friday will be a close they are and Billy are they in

comparison with today but still fairly breezy at times. Light rain

and drizzle and generally dry across the southern half. Towards the east

coast, some hazy sunshine. My old across the North West and a bit

marquee with extensive hill fog. -- my old. This time tomorrow night,

stealing clothing and once again not too cold. Rain is approaching and

setting across the North and through Saturday, the then spreads across

the country. Still holding onto the milder conditions. Sunday, we'll

lose the rain and also lose the milder. Showers in the West. Next

week, it is turning colder with this lovely picture. More snow for the

mountains with this coming down from the Arctic Circle. You can see that

the call they will plunge right across the UK and we will see snow

across the hills and high ground. Time to dig out the winter clothing.

Although we are in autumn, winter is not far away.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news. The Royal Navy aircraft

carrier HMS Illustrious is on her way to the Philippines to help in

the relief effort. She'll join the US aircraft carrier USS George

Washington, which will be a floating base for helicopters.

Scotland's spending watchdog will be challenging for the new police force

to achieve the savings set out for it.

Rain leaders say every part of the workforce may face job losses. From

everyone in the team, good evening.