13/01/2014 Reporting Scotland

showers in the west and south. That's all from the

Tonight on Reporting Scotland: Paying for the national debt.

The Treasury steps in to reassure international money markets if

Scotland became independent. A murder trial hears that it was

difficult to tell how this woman died because her body had lain

undiscovered for so long. The Athletes' Village in Glasgow is

completed and officially handed over to the organisers of the

Commonwealth Games. I am in Linlithgow, hoping for some

stargazing. And the boxers who nearly came to

blows before the fight. Scots fighter Steven Simmons loses his

cool at an event that was supposed to be promoting world champion Ricky

Burns' next fight. The Treasury is promising the

international money markets that it will honour all UK Government debt

issued up to the date of independence. It's making the move

to stop uncertainty about the sharing of debt pushing up the cost

of borrowing. Here's our business and economy editor, Douglas Fraser.

Remember this? The bills are about to come in. If you are looking at

?1200 for the festive splurge, imagine what it looks like for the

Government. It is facing a bill that is...

That has brought as roads, hospitals, schools, ships, it has

kept public services running. In the independence debate, switching to a

new Holyrood credit card, both sides agree that they would have to

negotiate a fair share of the debt. The SNP Government said it could be

up to ?130 billion, but it says that it doesn't get joint control of the

pound and a sheriff assets then it is not promising a deal on

liabilities. At the Treasury in London, they see investors are

nervous that a dispute could raise the risk of nonpayment and that

could push up borrowing costss. The coalition Government thinks that

Scotland will face higher costs anyway. The markets fear that the

independent Scotland will be as creditworthy as the UK. The risks

are made higher by Mr Salmond going around threatening to default.

The Scottish Government responds that only the Treasury could have

defaulted on the First Minister thinks he has nailed down a

concession. If you take your share of the liabilities, you are entitled

to your share of the assets, that is reasonable. The Treasury, up until

now, have not been prepared to discuss that. Hopefully now with

this announcement, this victory for common sense, we can get into some

discussions. Finance experts welcomed the clarity and a serious

issue. I think it is important they reassure the market as there has

been a lot of discussion of dividing debt and assets and it has never

been clear what is involved. Coming out and making it clear that

investors who hold UK Government debt will be paid by the UK

Government. This is important as our debt levels are high and the UK has

a track record going back to Charles II of never having default it on its

debt. The next question is the interest rate. The answer may be

very technical, but sharing out the debt is highly political.

Our political editor Brian Taylor joins me now. So, Brian, is there a

political motivation behind all this? Everything is political in

this year, but this one is especially political as it is about

trust. It is about reassurance. From the Treasury perspective, Danny

Alexander is saying there is an institutional anxiety, a core

fundamental problem, about the concept of independence and that has

been borne out in the market, hence the... Alex and says this is

perfectly a common-sense response. He said it was highlighted in the

White Paper. He also says this is about the Treasury blinking first in

terms of these negotiations about independence and he thinks it gives

Scots and leverage over the issue of the sterling zone. No, says the

Treasury. The Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has also been

speaking today about independence, what has he been saying? A New Year

and new initiatives from the new sides -- the two sides. Nicholas

Turgeon believes they must put forward detail of the room. Mr

Carmichael says it will be done on his terms and his terms are that

there are huge advantages to be gained from the unions staying

together. We have greater financial protection for savers and

pensioners. We have greater levels of competition, delivering cheaper

mortgages and insurance is for families and businesses. We invest

in research, infrastructure and industry to remain at the forefront

of new developments. We have a single labour market which allows

people to move freely within the UK for jobs and we use our

international influence to make a positive difference. The Scottish

Government has set out in detail the case for an independent Scotland, it

is set out in the White Paper. The onus is on the no campaign to stop

spreading fears and smears and instead answer some questions of

their own. I have published 50 questions that it is really

incumbent on the no campaign to answer. Let's have some answers from

them and then we can compare and contrast. What did Alastair

Carmichael have to say about that? He pointed out that his own party

have a plan in place, that Labour and the Conservatives will shortly

coming up with their plans for potential more powers for Holyrood.

He believes there will be an offer, maybe not a single offer, but he

believes they will be an offer to rival independence.

And BBC Scotland has a new series of referendum debates, beginning in

Greenock on the 21st of January and touring the country over the next

nine months. If you'd like the chance to come along and put your

questions to senior politicians, then go to our website for details.

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

programme: Food for thought, the new academic qualification for all

things gastronomic. In sport, Ricky Burns says he and

his broken jaw are ready for action. He faces what some are calling the

toughest fight of his career in March.

And the heat is on Andy Murray as temperatures soar in Melbourne. It's

his first grand slam after back surgery and Murray's rivals say he's

still a threat. All the big hitters in the sport coming soon.

A murder trial has heard that it wasn't possible to tell how a woman

whose dismembered body was found on a hill in Edinburgh had died. A

pathologist said the condition of Philomena Dunleavy's remains made it

difficult to reach a conclusion on the nature of her death. Mrs

Dunleavy's son James denies murdering and dismembering his

mother, and burying her on Corstorphine Hill. Joanne Macaulay

was in court. Doctor Ian Wilkinson, a pathologist

for NHS Lothian, examine the remains when they were still on Corstorphine

Hill last June and later carried out a full postmortem examination.

Doctor Wilkinson described marks and bruising on the head and broken

ribs. He said there was also reading on the head, possibly caused by a

blunt instrument. But the pathologist said because of the

time, it was not possible to say how she died and the official cause of

death was listed as I ascertained. Doctor Wilkinson was asked whether

it is possible that she was alive but unconscious when they saw blade

was used on one of her thighs. He said it was most likely that she was

already dead when her legs and head were cut off. He said because of the

condition of the body, it was difficult to get a conclusive cause

of death. The court also heard from Detective Brian Manchester who was

one of the police officers who detained the accused James Dunleavy

last summer after he reported his mother missing. A transcript of an

interview was read in which he answered no comments to most of the

questions which were put to him. A month earlier, Mrs Dunleavy's body

had been on Earth from the shallow grave on Corstorphine Hill. James

Dunleavy denies murder. The trial at the High Court in Edinburgh

continues with the prosecution expected to close its case tomorrow.

A man who killed a former leader of East Dunbartonshire Council with a

single punch days before last Christmas has been jailed for five

years. 25-year-old Darren Murphy hit John Morrison in the face in Dunlop

Street in Glasgow causing him to fall over and hit his head. Murphy

then left the 50-year-old lawyer in the street to go to a nightclub. He

claimed to have acted in self defence, but was convicted of

culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow.

It is one of the biggest housing projects in Europe and the

Commonwealth Athletes' Village in the East End of Glasgow is now

complete. Today, organisers have taken ownership of the properties to

get them ready for the games. Here's our Commonwealth Games reporter,

Lisa Summers. Just a little landscaping left and

the shape of this village in the heart of the East End of Glasgow is

complete. It has been a challenge to design a village fit for over 6000

athletes, as soon as the games as gone can be turned into family homes

and stop this place will be buzzing. This home will accommodate

about 16 athletes, so for example this room will be a communal living

space. The real challenge for builders is to how to turn it into

family homes after. After the games, this will be sealed off and an

entirely different family home. Living spaces will become attics,

walls will be partitioned and bedrooms turned into kitchens.

We have a one-bedroom flats, up to four bedroom detached houses. Then

we have a care home. There will be other facilities in time, small,

shop facilities and a new community centre. The first of the homes goes

on public sale at the start of debris ranging from ?75,000 up to

?200,000. 400 properties will be rented. It is part of the

regeneration project for Glasgow's east end. The work to reconvert them

won't start until November. Now it is down to the team to make if you

decisions. Which teams don't like each other? It is easier to say

which teams do. There is always quite a camaraderie, but also a

rivalry between the home nations. A lot of the smaller teams tend to

club together. When the new owners pick up the keys, someone have a

good story to tell about the previous occupants.

Last week, the BBC TV series Stargazing Live 2014 had us all

gazing skywards. Tonight, there's a further chance to learn more about

everything from comets to constellations at a spin off event

in Linlithgow. Our reporter Aileen Clarke is there poised amongst the

telescopes. Aileen, you're hoping for a clear night sky, how's it

looking? After tell you that it is a bit

cloudy. Fingers crossed, you never know, we'll keep them crossed. The

rain is. The telescopes are out and poised. After last week on the telly

we have been looking towards the sky. It has whetted our appetites.

Some people still got a pretty good view in the north of Scotland of the

Northern lights. On the 2nd of January, John in Orkney decided it

was too cold to sit out and instead set the camera up outside his house

to do the watching for him. This is the result of around 300

photos taken between 9pm and 12:30am. Despite some cloud, you can

see the green light to show illuminating the horizon. We are

used to seeing rainbows, but in Shetland Johnny Simpson caught

this. It is created by moonlight. In this

one, you can see the aurora making an appearance on the left. In

Caithness, Karen was out at 11:30pm to capture the aurora above some

standing stones. Here in Linlithgow, this event is

here to help us find out what else we should be looking for. I'm joined

by someone from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh. Northern

lights were a bit disappointing, but there is more to look for. Lots of

things to look out for. One thing people could look out for in

Scotland at the moment is Jupiter, is to spot, very bright. Lots of

mums and dads and children coming tonight. What is the first thing

they should look out for? One of the easiest consolations to spot, to

recognise, is Orion and that is very visible in the South. One of the

easiest ways to recognise it is the three stars of Orion's out, almost

the same brightness in a straight line. It is a great place to start.

To help them in that regard, you have a planetarium set up inside the

hall here. That will give them a few clues. We have lots of activities

going on inside. Even though we have clout, we have a night sky inside.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that the cloud does move and that --

and dust part so we get a good view of the night sky. -- has part.

Other stories from across Scotland this Monday.

A fatal accident inquiry has heard that the helicopter did not undergo

an engine shutdown between flights. The helicopter came down in 2009

killing all 16 men on board. A man has been jailed for eight

years for raping a woman after she walked home along this road after a

light out. -- a night out. He dragged her into bushes. He held a

screwdriver to her neck as he carried out the attack in September,

2012. Extra police have been put on duty

in Edinburgh city centre at weekends to help combat drink related

incidents. It follows a review of operations and feedback from the

public. Work has started on a new ?15

million bridge over a river in Aberdeen. It is hoped it will help

ease traffic congestion and should be complete by autumn of next year.

This is a clear sign that this project is happening and it is going

to be built. The money is there, the work is happening. They will be able

to look forward to driving over it in the autumn of 2015. A number of

landowners say they will oppose moves by the Highland Council to

take over their land to build the so-called West Link bypass around

Inverness. It could mean a public inquiry will have to be held. Cars

will be banned from Edinburg's Waverley station. Only taxis

retirements and some disabled travel services will be granted access. The

move is to reduce congestion and increase safety. Scottish locations

could feature in more Hollywood blockbusters after the Ministry of

Defence launched a drive to promote military sites as film sets. Sites

are being offered to film makers and broadcasters.

More stories from your area and all of the latest news on BBC

Scotland's website. Have you enjoyed some feasting over

the past few weeks? Well, the UK's first MSc in gastronomy begins near

Edinburgh this month. But it's not a course in how to eat well. It spans

everything from global food injustice to food history and

subjects range from diets to politics. Morag Kinniburgh reports.

Gastronomy comedy at of good eating. The UK's first MSc in it

claims to be more than fine dining. Students will learn from experts on

side. -- on site. It is not about pretty pictures on plates. It is

about real food with integrity. Soup kitchens and food banks are as

important as top end cuisine. We want to create a more serious

dialogue around food and drink in Scotland. We also want to try and

reconnect people with good, local, healthy food. There is funding for

five years. The hope is graduates will become agents of change,

promoting a more holistic approach to healthy eating. My interest is to

help people to negotiate the food industry and their weekly shop, to

have more knowledge and understanding and confidence of what

they are buying. It gives me a base where I can network more, make more

contacts and have that sort of formal qualification. Hopefully, it

would take me to a job where I can try and influence the way people

think about food in the country. University thinks the course will

pave the way for changing Scotland's food and drink, making

the degree more a matter of social change rather than fine dining.

It all looks lovely! Let's turn our attentions to sport

and some verbal sparring at the boxing, Rhona.

Scotland's world boxing champion Ricky Burns says his jaw is ready to

face his American challenger Terence Crawford. Burns' jaw was broken in

his last fight, but he's now back sparring ahead of his first bout

back in March. However, the build up to all of that was overshadowed

today, as Alasdair Lamont reports. This report contains flash

photography. Today was supposed to be about this plan, defending this

belt. Instead, Ricky Burns took second billing to Stephen Simmons.

You are getting smashed. He is defending his international silver

cruiserweight title against the Englishman. As you can hear, there

is no love lost. Shall we go out in the car park now? Maybe not a great

idea to allow them to get up close and personal than. It did not end

there. You are going to be in a world of pain. The real star knows

all about pain. He says his jaw is standing up to the punches. The

first one, that was the worry. Always in the back of your head. Now

it has been tested, I know it is OK. Another six weeks to go. Fingers

crossed, we will have no accidents. I remember sitting in the hospital

with him and he was in a huge amount of pain. I was not sure he would

never fight again. But something in him once to do it again, don't ask

me what it is. He is a warrior. Scotland should be proud. It will be

huge night. That could be an understatement.

It's back to Grand Slam business for Andy Murray after back surgery. He

opens his account at the Australian Open tomorrow. Murray meets Japan's

Go Soeda around 6am UK time. Now, the Scot is playing down his chances

of success, but his rivals aren't. Kheredine Idessane reports from the

sweltering heat of Melbourne. Day one and the sparkling sunshine

of Melbourne. Fun for all the family. Andy Murray has been putting

his back into practice. All is well after surgery last year. But after a

three-month outcome he is talking down his chances of a third grand

slam title. I am not looking at that this year. The expectations can

change through the course of an event, but I am not thinking so much

about that just now. I do love this tournament. I have played some of my

best tennis here. Andy Murray says he will not know whether he is a

genuine contender until he gets a few matches under his belt. A

potential quarterfinal opponent who knows a thing or two about the game

says he cannot be discounted. He has played great tennis at Wimbledon and

here at the Australian open last year. He won the US Open. He knows

how to play on the hard courts. Also sweet on Andy Murray's prospects,

the defending champion had chocolates for the media and warm

words for the Scot. One of the main contenders wherever he plays because

he has improved his game significantly. Since he started

working with Ivan Lendl. He has been more aggressive on the court. This

is the man Andy Murray faces first, Japan's Go Soeda leader. -- goes so

I either. Perhaps the more formidable challenge will be the

heat. Some people's protection is less effective than others!

Now, a look at what else is happening across Scottish sport.

Neil Lennon's attempts to sign the Norwegian midfielder Stefan Johansen

are an advanced stage. He left his national team's training camp with

the Norwegian FA saying he was in final negotiations with a club.

Edinburgh rugby scrum halves Sean Kennedy and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne have

extended contracts until at least 2016. They are considered some of

the brightest talents in the Scottish game. If Alan Soloman's

master plan coming to fruition? The process will take some time to come

to fruition. We are making good progress and that is the important

thing. Still a long way to go. I'm really happy with the progress we

have made to date. John Higgins is true to the quarterfinals of the

Masters snooker in London. He beat Stuart Bingham bust up he will face

the reigning champion Mark Selby next fireplace the semifinals.

World-class athletics is set to stay in the capital until at least 2018.

The new Deal has been signed for the event-macro -- for the Great

Edinburgh XCountry event. There are most sports stories plus

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

We will be back tomorrow with a report on Andy Murray.

Good evening. Tricky conditions on the roads tonight one way or

another. We have a band of heavy showers tracking east. That is only

half the story. We have a yellow warning from the Met Office of a

risk of ice. That is right across the country. Skies will clear and

temperatures will tumble and we will see a widespread frost with

temperatures as low as minus four in parts of Aberdeenshire and mist and

fog forming too as winds stay light. A frosty start. Mist and fog

lingering in places. Most places will see sunshine. In the

afternoon, cloud increases from the West ahead of this next feature, a

band of rain. After such a cold start, the sun will not have much

time to warm things up before the cloud full to them. The coalfields

of the day. -- a cold feel to the day. Winds will freshen and we will

see something a wee bit milder faux western coastal fringes. The winds

will reach gale force over the western Isles by the end of the day.

By tomorrow evening, the rain pushes in and it turns to snow over the

high ground. We have a second Met Office yellow warning in force

particularly for the high ground of the Highlands, Perthshire and

Aberdeenshire. A few centimetres settling at lower levels. As much as

ten centimetres over high ground. It will turn to rain as the milder air

pushes in. Strong winds go with it. Wednesday, cloud and rain hanging

around. A grey and wet and windy start. It stays wet and windy over

Shetland. Elsewhere, we will see a gradual improvement from the

Northwest through the day. It is a slow process. Temperatures, the

mildest day of the week. Thursday, we lose a little on the temperature

front. But we gain a brighter day with sunshine. The best of it in the

East. Now, a reminder of tonight's main

news. The Treasury is promising the international money markets that it

will honour all UK Government debt issued up to the date of Scottish

independence. It's making the move to stop uncertainty about the

sharing of debt pushing up the cost of borrowing.

A pathologist has told a murder trial that the condition of

Philomena Dunleavy's remains made it difficult to reach a conclusion on

the nature of her death. Mrs Dunleavy's son James denies

murdering and dismembering his mother and burying her on

Corstorphine hill. Councils in England are being

offered millions of pounds in extra business rates if they back

controversial fracking schemes. Warnings from health experts that

half the British population will be obese by 2050 could actually be an

underestimate. The National Obesity Forum is claiming that, unless

there's a significant change in our lifestyle, we're heading for what it

calls a doomsday scenario. And that's Reporting Scotland. I'll

be back with the headlines at 8pm and the late bulletin just after the

ten o'clock news. Until then, from everyone on the team, have a very

good evening.