22/01/2014 Reporting Scotland

Sunday. Make the most of Saturday because Sunday looks pretty filthy.

Thank you. Tonight, on Reporting Scotland.

Unemployment in Scotland drops by 25,000 - it's down to its lowest

rate for almost five years. Tackling forced marriage - MSPs vote

to allow the UK parliament to make it a criminal offence but women's

groups warn it could discourage victims coming forward.

This young rugby player died after being concussed during a school

game, now his father says everyone in sport should be aware of the

dangers. He was on the ground for a minute

and a half and had to be helped to his feet. I think that was when the

problem started happening. And Andy Murray's Australian open is

over. He's beaten in the quarter final by

Roger Federer but the Scot says he was proud of the way he played.

Unemployment in Scotland has fallen to its lowest rate for almost five

years. According to official figures, the number of people who

were out of work and seeking a job during the autumn was down by

25,000. Our business correspondent David Henderson is here and can tell

us more. Jackie, this is another clear sign

that the economy's on the mend. During September to November,

employment levels rose. Meanwhile the number of people out of work and

looking for a job fell by 25,000. The jobless total now stands at its

lowest rate for almost five years. And across the UK as a whole,

unemployment also dipped sharply. I've been hearing from some

manufacturers, who're cautiously optimistic about the coming year.

At Scotland's trade feared in Glasgow company is offering what

they make to retailers who will then sell it on to tourists. Signs the

economy picking up with some taking on new staff to meet the rising

demand. We are textile manufacturer with some 800 employees and we see

that going up due to the seasonal nature of our business, but we see

that going up and hopefully growing. I had not possibly experienced a

rise in demand like this since the 1980s and for want of a better word,

we refer to it as the Braveheart factor. With orders rising, other

employers are hiring as well which has caused unemployment is twofold.

Some are finding their is less competition. In 2012 there was

roughly 60 applications forever the vacancy but that has rocked. -- 16

applications has dropped to 14. Firms hope Scotland's rising profile

can boost their trade thanks to events like the Commonwealth Games

and just outside, this new hotel is being prepared for an influx of

tourists. Unemployment is now at its lowest level for five years and

worked like this may help that continue.

So what now? Well, the Scottish unemployment rate is down to 6.4% of

the workforce, while the UK rate has dropped to 7.1%. That's very close

to the point at which the Bank of England has said it will consider

raising interest rates. Now it's clear the economy's creating jobs at

a faster rate than most experts had predicted. But this is long road to

recovery, so most think the Bank is in no rush to lift those interest

rates. Jackie. MSPs have approved controversial

plans to let the Westminster parliament make forced marriage a

specific criminal offence, with jail terms of up to seven years. Scottish

Women's Aid wanted Holyrood to draw up its own legislation. It fears

criminalising forced marriage could discourage victims from coming

forward. Our political correspondent Glenn Campbell reports.

The wedding of a willing couple may be the happiest day of their lives

but some young women and men are flown abroad to marry against their

will. In some cases, they are tricked into travelling by the

promise of a holiday. Both the UK and Scottish governments have been

taking an increasingly tough line against forced marriage. For the

last two years Scottish courts have been able to issue orders protecting

people from forced marriage and breach of an order is a criminal

offence. Now the Scottish government wants to adopt UK wide plans to make

forced marriage a specific criminal offence with deal terms of up to

seven years. Campaigners who work with those at risk of forced

marriage thing that could do more harm than good. People are scared to

criminalise colleagues and relatives and we think it will make people

more reluctant to come forward and report instances. At Holyrood, the

government said a criminal offence could be a successful deterrent and

Scotland must keep step with the rest of the UK on this issue. A gap

could open up between protections in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

This period could extend up to 18 months or more and we think it is

unacceptable for this. We would attract criticism for allowing that

to happen. She asked Hollywood to let Westminster change the law for

all of the UK. MSPs overwhelmingly backed making forced marriage a

specific crime. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on the programme.

It's the final day of campaigning in the Cowdenbeath byelection ahead of

tomorrow's vote. In sport: It's all over for Andy

Murray at the Australian Open. We'll hear from the man himself.

And Huntly's Olympic hopefuls. Four of the 18 Scots in the GB Winter

Olympics team hail from the same town.

14-year old Ben Robinson died after being injured during a school rugby

match. His tragic story is being used to highlight a new awareness

campaign highlighting the dangers of concussion in sport. It includes

guidance being sent to all schools and sporting organisations. Cameron

Buttle reports. It is so hard for Peter Robinson to

watch a game of rugby. He finds himself looking for the face of his

son who died at the age of 14 after being concussed twice within 45

minutes. Since then he has been campaigning to raise awareness of

the dangers of conversion. He was on the ground for a minute and a half

and had to be helped to his feet. I think that is when the problems

started happening. He got noticed that all after and was involved in a

heavy tackle and again was tested. We talk about recognise and remove

and the first heavy impact, that should have been recognised and he

should have been removed. This will be released to all primary and

secondary schools across Scotland and on the front it says concussion

can be fatal. It details some of the symptoms and tries to clear up some

of the confusion. Concussion does not mean you cannot

play again. This 13-year-old was in hospital with concussion a few weeks

ago and was taken off the pitch immediately but has been given the

all clear. I do not remember how it happened and I apparently could not

open my eyes. I could not talk properly. Experts stress you do not

have to be knocked out to be in danger. Concussion is a complicated

injury. The symptoms can be anything where the brain function is

impaired. It can be as common as headache and dizziness or vomiting,

a whole range of symptoms. The important thing is to be able to say

the kid has had a bang on the head and I am worried, take them off. He

stresses he does not want people to stop playing sport or getting stuck

in, he just wants the awareness of concussion to be second nature in

any sport. The BBC has uncovered serious

concerns within the federation that runs the Commonwealth Games about a

lack of interest from its member countries about hosting future

games. The 20th Games will take place in Glasgow in July, with

Australia's Gold Coast due to be the hosts in 2018 but what happens after

that remains unclear. Members of the 70 nations and territories have

until March to register their interest.

A man has appeared in court charged with making racist remarks on

Facebook about three-year-old Mikaeel Kular whose body was found

in Fife last week. Jamie Milligan, who's 24 and from Paisley, is

alleged to have posted the comments on the social networking site last

week. He is also charged with posting another comment in which he

threatened to rape a woman, causing her fear and alarm. Mr Milligan made

no plea or declaration at Paisley Sheriff Court and was released on

bail. Mikaeel's 33-year-old mother, Rosdeep, appeared in court on

Monday, charged with his murder. MSPs have overwhelmingly endorsed

Scottish spending plans for next year set out by the Finance

Secretary John Swinney. They backed his Budget bill, which includes new

money for improved childcare, by 90 votes to 13 with two abstentions.

But Mr Swinney's opponents remain deeply unhappy with aspects of the

package and will press for further concessions as the Bill works its

way through Parliamentary scrutiny. I'm joined now from Edinburgh by our

Political Editor Brian Taylor. Reminders of the core contents. It

covers everything that is governed by the Scottish government's

proposals but in terms of quarter efforts to drive growth, there is

money for capital investment and money to cap business rates and

rewards families that are perhaps struggling at this moment. The big

highlight as he got new money as a consequence of expenditure. Free

school meals for infants in primary one to three, and that would usually

have come later down the process but he has chosen to do it up front and

on the face of the Dell. This was therefore are particularly difficult

one for Labour? It was. It was intended deliberately as a trap when

a previous motion was debated, Labour ended up for reasons they see

are entirely defensible, voting against the idea of childcare and

free school meals. In this case they saw the trap coming. The Tories

voted against it saying it did not do enough for business. The Liberal

Democrats say they are in favour of childcare but on this issue for

Labour, Labour said the bill does not do enough on poverty and they

believe in particular it does not do anything to mitigate the impact of

the bedroom tax. John Swinney has offered 20 million but they want

more. He is adamant he is at the legal limit. Not much time to sort

this out but still a lot of disquiet among the opposition.

Let's round up other stories making the news across the country.

A metallic chip was detected in part of a helicopter gearbox 15 minutes

before it crashed with the loss of 16 lives. A fatal accident inquiry

heard from an expert from the Super Puma manufacturer Eurocopter who

said the system which detects mechanical faults onboard the

helicopter also showed chips were found on two occasions in the days

before the crash in April 2009. Tonight's BBC Crimewatch programme

will feature an appeal to find an armed man who tied up, robbed and

sexually assaulted a woman in her home. The attack happened at farm

near Shotts on September fifth. A reconstruction will be broadcast at

nine o'clock on BBC One. A woman who was seriously injured

when she was gored by a stag last month is now able to walk short

distances, and speak to friends and family. Kate Stone has been moved

from the high dependency unit to a regular ward at Glasgow's Southern

General Hospital. The 44-year-old was injured by the animal near Fort

William. Scotland's smallest secondary school

is to shut in the summer. The three island pupils will transfer from

Skerries to the Shetland mainland. The Scottish Government has decided

not to challenge the decision made in December by Shetland Islands

Council. A vote is to be held on the isle of

Lewis next month to decide whether there should be a community buyout

of the Carloway estate. Supporters of the plans say a buyout could help

revitalise the economy of the area, which includes land surrounding the

famous Callanish Standing Stones. Over a thousand people have signed a

petition protesting about a change in the name of the new look military

museum at Fort George. Veterans of the Queen's Own Highlanders say it

is unacceptable that it is now simply called the Highlanders

museum. Bosses there say they chose the name to reflect the proud

military history of all the Highland regiments, whose names changed many

times over the years. And there are more stories from your

area and all the latest news, on BBC Scotland's website.

Voting takes place tomorrow in the Cowdenbeath by-election. It follows

the death of Labour MSP Helen Eadie. Today marked the final day of

campaigning for the seven candidates vying for the seat. Steven Godden

reports. On home turf, some final campaigning

from the Labour candidate. He says employment is a key issue, a message

that the current leader hopes will create a vacancy at council HQ.

People are concerned, particularly about youth employment. That

continually comes up on the doorsteps so I hope people will come

out tomorrow and use their throat. I certainly will be a strong voice in

that Scottish Parliament. -- use their vote.

The cost of living was the SNP candidate's focus. She was joined by

the First Minister, to highlight the Scottish government's mission. We

propose to continue the council tax freeze, bring in free school meals

for children up to primary three. None of the other candidates have

committed to these policies which people of this constituency are

telling us are important. Candidates say that independence and

overhanging trees outweigh concerns about Westminster policy. There is

no single single bullet issue that will make a vendetta. It is hard

work and I have a track record of doing that and was a bit of luck, I

will be able to do it on a bigger scale. The Lib Dems point to their

achievements and insist there is no sign of the Reynard wrote reaching

the shores here. Nobody has brought that up to be. What they are

interested double interested in is the money in your pockets, jobs and

pensions and that is what they have been talking to us about. This may

not be little contest to get the juices flowing but the four main

parties go into it with some power. The vote is close at 10pm tomorrow

night. And there are seven candidates in

all standing in the Cowdenbeath by-election with UKIP, the Scottish

Democratic Alliance and the Victims Final Right party all fielding

representatives. You can find more details on the politics page of the

BBC Scotland news website. Sport now. And it just wasn't to be,

David. I am afraid not!

Andy Murray's out of the Australian open tennis, the Wimbledon champion

losing to Roger Federer by three sets to one. The Scot citing lack of

match practice after back surgery as one of the reasons for his exit at

the quarter final stage. From Melbourne, Kheredine Idessane

reports. # -- the Murray Fanclub in top form.

Speaker Michael Alesha Dixon home. Come on, Andy!

No laughing matter for the Swiss. Roger! They were optimistic also. We

will win for sure. Yet,. Go for it. That is exactly what Roger Federer

did. He stormed into a two set lead. He even served the match in the

third. That is when the muddy comeback kicked in.

He even served the match in the third. That is when the He levelled

at 5-5 and then in an astonishing tie-break, the Wimbledon champion

came from 6-4 down to save too much points and take that into a fourth

set. Relentless Roger's Renaissance finally broken Sicilians and as

Federer put the semifinal with Nadal, Murray was left to reflect on

his comeback. I do Nadal, Murray was left to reflect on

not know how many players have come back from surgery and won their

first Grand Slam and second tournament. It was unlikely to

happen. I need to use this as a stepping stone to getting better.

Defeat for Andy Murray but plenty to build on for the rest of the season.

Something to cheer us up now. The British team for the Winter Olympics

has been announced. 18 of it's 56 members are Scots, with four of them

from the same small Aberdeenshire ski club. John Barnes has the

details. There is the belief Andrew must

grade could be a surprise package at the Olympics. -- Andrew Musgrove. He

outclassed a world champion and two world-class winners last week. At a

testing course in Norway, he has been set up for the winter Olympics.

The cause there was pretty similar to the cause at the Olympics. It is

long, big hills. Pretty hard. That is what I have been training for and

it seems like training has been paying off well. He, along with his

sister and two others, make up a team representing Great Britain in

the cross-country events. They all learned their skills at this

Aberdeenshire club and all have their own targets. The main one for

me is going to be the Sprint, which will be in the first week of

competition. A-lister grey, if I can get through to the quarterfinals,

top 30, that would be a good day for me. -- realistically. Livingston

born speed skater Elise Christie will be looking to maintain the form

that won her European gold. Other Scots in the team are...

With one third of the Great Britain team made up of Scottish people, the

hopes we will see a few enjoying a podium finish.

That would brighten a winter's night. So might this. Some more

stories from Scottish sport. Scotland's Rugby coach Scott

Johnson's talking up his team's chances at this year's Six Nations

Championship. Here he is at the tournament launch in London. It is

part of our game to think that is brilliant. That puts us on any

level. Aberdeen's Paul Lawrie is three

shots behind leader George Coetzee of South Africa after the opening

round of the Qatar Masters. This eagle putt helping Lawrie to five

under par. St Johnstone striker Stevie May is

now the Premeirship's leading scorer, taking his league tally to

16 in the 1-0 win over Partick Thistle last night. It's his 20th in

all competitions this season. Edinburgh athlete Lynsey Sharp will

be presented with her European 800 metres gold medal on Saturday. The

silver she won in the summer of 2012 was upgraded to gold, after race

winner Yelena Arzhakova was banned for doping.

More on those stories, and all the latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC

Sport Scotland's website. That's all for now.

Thank you very much, David. Newsnight Scotland is over on BBC

Two Scotland tonight, where they will be looking at the unemployment

figures we told you about at the start of the programme. That is at

11pm. Let's get the latest weather

forecast from Christopher. Thank you very much. Good evening,

in showers continuing across central and western parts of the country but

they slowly ease. Certainly by dawn, it is once again wet. Here is how it

plays out. The showers will slowly fade and it will be dry overnight.

Some mist patches but by the end of the night, this band of fairly heavy

rain working its way. Across the Highlands and further south

possibly, Lanarkshire and the Borders we can once now. -- we could

see some snow. Tomorrow morning, because of that warning, we have Met

Office be aware warnings. A lot of spray on the roads solely difficult

commute. Maybe also some icy patches. By mid-morning, lunchtime

and afternoon, generally bright and sunny. Maybe one or two showers

continuing and 18 breeze. Despite the sunshine, it is actually cooler

than today. -- a strong breeze. Those in showers will be wintry over

the border hills. Further north, generally dry and bright but chilly.

There will be one or two paths in showers, especially across the

Northern Isles. The winds for Shetland, thankfully, lighter than

today. The rest of the afternoon and into the evening and overnight there

will still be showers. Dry, clear and cold, frosty and possibly some

ice and then more rain on the horizon. If we look West, we can see

the rain gathering force as we head overnight towards Friday morning.

The weather fronts are stacking up and it will be a wet start to

Friday. That is for central, western and southern parts. Dry in the

north-east but not for long. It will be a wet day but as we head into the

afternoon, the rain will fragment and it will not be as heavy.

Temperature wise, up a bit but not feeling that great. For the weekend,

central and eastern parts of the country are largely dry and bright

but in or showers in the West. Wintry on higher ground. The bubbly

better than Sunday, which will be wet and windy.

We are dreading it already. Thank you very much. Now, a reminder of

tonight's main news: Unemployment in Scotland has fallen

to its lowest rate for almost five years. According to official

figures, the number of people who were out of work and seeking a job

during the autumn was down by 25,000.

MSPs have approved controversial plans to let the Westminster

parliament make forced marriage a specific criminal offence, with jail

terms of up to seven years. Scottish Women's Aid wanted Holyrood to draw

up its own legislation. It fears criminalising forced marriage could

discourage victims from coming forward.

Two people have been shot dead in clashes between police and

demonstrators in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. They are the first

fatalities since the start of protests two months ago. It follows

the Ukranian president's decision to shun a deal with the European Union.

He favours closer ties to Russia. The former England footballer Stan

Collymore says he's dismayed with the social networking site Twitter,

accusing it of doing nothing about a stream of abusive messages he's

received. He says he's been subjected to racist abuse and death

threats after he suggested the Liverpool striker Luis Suarez dived

during a match at the weekend. And that's Reporting Scotland. I'll

be back with the headlines at eight and our late bulletin. Until then,

from all the team, good evening.