06/03/2014 Reporting Scotland

Yard's handling of the case. That's all from the BBC News at Six,

Is A Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: Big business again weighs into the

debate over Scottish independence. The chief executive of Shell says

he'd prefer Scotland to stay part of the UK. The SNP say confidence in

the energy sector here remains very high. New research shows premature

children often have subtle learning difficulties affecting their entire

education. Difficulties with tension, difficulties with certain

words, difficulty with memory work. Then you can see that it's because

he is born premature and the live stuff can be done. Also on the

programme: The long and winding military road. Why drivers on this

popular route through Argyll and Bute are using an unconventional

diversion. Scotland win in Warsaw. The Tartan Army are delighted with

victory over Poland. And the original lyrics and much, much more

- a Gerry Rafferty exhibition opens in his home town.

Good Evening. The chief executive of the oil giant, Shell, has become the

latest figure from big business to add his voice to the independence

debate. Ben Van Beurden has said he would like Scotland to stay part of

the UK because he values what he described as "the stability and

certainty" it offers his business. In response the Scottish Government

said it plans an "attractive and stable environment" for the energy

sector under independence. Here's our political correspondent, Glenn

Campbell. Shell is the UK's largest stock exchange listed company. Shell

has been going well on the oil and gas it has extracted from the North

Sea. It invests more than ?1 billion in these operations every year. It

ploy is more than 5 million people in Scotland alone. Shell avoided

giving a view on independence in Cabinet last week. It UK manager

would not intervene but above his pay grade the Chief Executive of

shell's global business has done just that. He told those attending

shell was Mac annual reception in London last night we are used to

operating in uncertain political and economic environments but, given a

choice, we want to know as accurately as possible what

investment conditions will look like ten or 20 years from now. That is

the chief reason we are in favour of the UK maintaining its long pleas at

the heart of the European Union. It is for similar reasons we would like

to see Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom. For shell it is not

just about the referendums independence -- referendums

independent -- referendums independent there are more and more

businesses coming out every day to put forward what they think are the

risks of Scotland separating. I have the utmost respect for shell, we

value their contribution to the Scottish economy. They will continue

to operate in Scotland and we will continue to provide them with the

stable tax regime. Shell has not threatened to stop investing, it

says it will get the most of the precious resources that remain to be

pumped from the North Sea. Our business and economy editor is with

me now, how significant are these comments? It is important for the

referendum cause. The Scottish Government has been trying to

reassure them about a stable and attractive regime. This comment

coming from shell does not help their cause but it is in the context

of concern about a vote, possibly about UK voters pulling Scotland out

of the European Union. To some extent the Scottish constitutional

debate is being dragged in. There has been quite a lot of comment from

big business leaders, what is causing them to go public now? There

is a golf about who has control of the pound. It is also reporting

season were those reporting on financial results from last year

have to put forward the risks they face, they have to tell shareholders

about that. We have heard from Lloyds and Standard Life, the Echo,

a company that supplies temporary power said today it was talking

about the red tape costs that could be faced as well. It is worth

pointing out that many of these big businesses remain neutral. British

Airways and Ryan near our more positive about the prospects of

independence. Most support for independence comes from small

businesses and entrepreneurs. For larger firms in the financial sector

it is worth watching the financial trust in Dundee which will have its

results out tomorrow. The Ministry of Defence has been accused of

"disrespect", for failing to alert Scottish ministers about a radiation

problem at the MoD's Dounreay nuclear test site. The incident

happened two years ago, when radioactivity was found in the

cooling water of a nuclear submarine test reactor. The Scottish

Government says the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was

told by the MoD but was requested not to make this information more

widely known for security reasons. Here's our Westminster correspondent

Tim Reid. One of Britain's nuclear powered Trident submarines based at

Faslane on the Clyde. These ageing Saabs are due to be replaced but now

because of the potential problem with its core this HMS Vanguard

needs a brief it. The problem, it described as minor by the MoD was

discovered here that Dounreay were radiation leaked into water designed

to cool be the actor. This water is contained within the circuit and I

can assure the house there has been no detected leak from that circuit.

The Scottish environment and Ted protection agency has been kept

informed. It did not tell the Scottish Government. The lack of

transparency raises urgent questions, say labour. It is vital

that if an agency of the Scottish Government knew such vital

information, in the first instance, they should tell their political

masters and if they did not bat is deadly serious. We will be asking

questions from no-one to get to this by play important matter of in the

interest of the Scottish people. It was said by CPAP that radioactive

discharges were below the authorised limits set for the site. -- CPAP.

They were told not to discuss the reactive problems for security

reasons. It is vitally port and we are told about these things and I

think it is appalling we have not been told, along with the associated

risks. This is another ?120 million being put towards Trident that we do

not agree with. Some children born early are suffering at school

because the education system isn't aware of their special needs. That's

according to a group of specialists hosting a conference in Glasgow.

They say children born prematurely often have subtle learning

difficulties that can affect their entire education. Our health

correspondent Eleanor Bradford has more. The NHS is getting better and

better at keeping for premature babies during the critical first

weeks of their lives. When babies leave units like this they might

seem healthy but their problems might not have ended. This child is

nearly four but was born 12 years early. His mum is worried he will

have difficulties at school. He has a very strict regime of how he likes

things done. There are a lot of different little issues that he has

wit I feel a child born full-term going to school would not have. Many

parents, little and teachers, are aware that children born more

prematurely are likely to have special educational needs. Best

doctor is calling for a child's gestation to be recorded on school

entry forms to flag up problems. Many feel that when they have

difficulties with attention, certain work and certain memory work, they

can see that he is born premature and what can be done to suggest that

things can be done to ensure the gap does not get bigger for primary two.

As an increasing number of premature born babies survive we will continue

to learn more about the consequences on their brains. You're watching

Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's

programme: Looking back over the years, Edinburgh's Usher Hall

celebrates a century of entertainment and culture. In sport:

The Scotland manager Gordon Strachan on the national team's feel good

factor. And Sam Torrance on why he's glad his secret out at last...all

will be revealed a little later. A landslide has once again closed

the A83 in Argyll and Bute at the Rest And Be Thankful. It's the

fourth time in the last six months. But instead of facing a 60-mile

diversion, motorists are for the first time using a specially

upgraded relief road. Laura Maxwell has been to see it in use. Closed

again. Last night's heavy rain brought down yet another landslide.

Most of the rubble was caught in the new deep the fences but engineers

cannot open the road until they can see the extent of the damage further

up the health side. It is the situation locals are grudgingly

getting used to work for the first time they are using a newly upgraded

relief road to bypass. Particularly for a local diversion, people who

use the road from around here, they will see the benefit because all

their journeys are local. For a local aspect it is definitely the

best option. Here is the old military road that is unknown -- as

it is known locally. It has been tarmac than meet traffic safe at a

cost of ?4 million. The traffic is being brought very closely in convoy

up through the Glen. This road is only a couple of miles wrong but is

adding an early 40 minutes to the journey time. The other diversion is

60 miles long and people see this as a saving in time and fuel. It is an

emergency road if the air ambulances or fire engine is, it is ideal. It

is saving fuel but whether it will save much time. We thought we would

be having our feet up somewhere comfortably with the pint. A special

tax post will meet this month to discuss plans for the blue -- the

road. Until then the old military road is not considered safe for use

in the dark. Reporting Scotland has learned that the Aberdeen councillor

who wanted to ban Scottish Government ministers from visiting

council buildings personally intervened to block ministerial

visits. Until now, leading figures at the authority have declined to

say who took the key decisions, saying they were just following a

protocol. Steven Duff joins us now from outside Aberdeen City Council.

Steven, what's the significance of this? We have learned that the

Labour finance convener of Aberdeen City Council telephoned civil

servants and told them it was council policy that ministers would

revisited from visiting council premises until disputes between the

parties had been resolved. This telephone call happened before the

full council met yesterday to decide to review the protocol and before

the council leader said that had been and would be no blanket ban.

The council leader has all along said he has been following protocol.

This is a local authority, just as the Scottish Parliament is a

Parliament with 129 members, John up on political lines. -- drawn up on

political lines. Protocol was followed. The SNP say that the

counsellor has acted in a dictatorial fashion. I am interested

in what ordinary people from Aberdeen think and they are fed up

with his behaviour and the behaviour of the administration and they agree

with me that Councillor Young is not fit for office. Councillor Young

would not do another interview with us today and no says that

ministerial visits will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Now,

let's take a look at stories around Scotland this evening. It is

understood that Mrs Kular went on a special visit yesterday. New

guidelines have been suggested to improve school meals. Solicitors say

that our financial worries -- about our financial worries at the

Hamilton school. That is a campaign to get fishermen to wear life

jackets and a survey has found that only a quarter where a life jacket.

Edinburgh University has maintained its place in a list of the most

prestigious universities in the world. The list is subjective and

reflects the views of academics. It appears in the Times educational

supplement. This is important for parents deciding whether children

will study and for students. One of the world's greatest concert halls

is celebrating its centenary. The Usher Hall was the vision of a

wealthy Edinburgh drinks merchant who wanted to cultivate a taste for

music throughout the country. Morag Kinniburgh reports. The Usher Hall

has hosted all kinds of events, from Winston Churchill to the Rolling

Stones, comedians and even boxing tournaments. The building was

designed for all kinds of audiences, though separated by class. If you

were sitting up in the upper circle, which was very much where the

lower-class was sitting, the seats were hard and small, and there was

only one staircase that you could access outside the building, so you

were kept away from everybody else. Andrew Usher came from a distilling

family and made his fortune in whiskey. He went into a jewellers

and said, I have got so much money I do not know what to do with it! As

his great-great granddaughter, it would have been lovely if he had

decided to leave it to us, but he decided that Edinburgh was far more

important, and as a result, after much discussion with the jeweller

they decided that the Usher Hall was what was needed. All kinds of rock

and pop stars have performed here such as The New Seekers. Also The

New York Philharmonic Symphony - it has been renowned for classical

music. It has a fantastic acoustics. Performers who come here across the

world will say the same thing. It is the most natural of all the positive

holes in the world. Celebrations underlying the Usher Hall's enduring

popularity at home and enviable reputation abroad. Let's get the

sport now, from David. The Scotland manager Gordon Strachan says the win

over Poland in Warsaw last night has made the team feel good about

itself, even though the match was a friendly the goal enhanced the

side's sense of well-being. I am so glad it went into the back of the

net today. The Scots were tough at the back. It makes us feel good

about ourselves and it adds to our confidence so that is all it does at

the moment. Let us not get carried away because this was just a

friendly and, aside from the goal, they only had one other chance. But

we are all entitled to feel a bit better about ourselves. Sam Torrance

says he wants his Ryder Cup-winning streak to continue after being named

a vice captain for Gleneagles later this year. The Ayrshire man

captained Europe to victory back in 2002 after helping his team win four

times as a player. Here's our golf reporter, Phil Goodlad. My first two

choices as vice captain Sam Torrance and Denis Smith. It is like getting

an award from the Queen because you're not allowed to tell anyone. I

have known for a long time I would be vice captain but not allowed to

tell anyone. It is great that it has come out today and I can relax. He

was the hero back in 1985. That was a high point in a distinguished

career that has seen torrents when over 40 two ornaments. In the Ryder

Cup he is well-known for his ability. -- 40 tournaments. He made

brave decisions that paid off. Sam on some company. There are a few

boys who want a place in the team which is great. Scotland's Ryder Cup

just got a bit more Scottish. Now, a look at what else is happening

across Scottish sport. There will be no 40,000 Aberdeen fans cheering

their side on. This is something we're looking forward to. Albion

Rovers are banning their players from taking souvenir for tools at

Ibrox before the final on Sunday. -- souvenir photos. The hearts manager

is ticking contract talks on hold. Wales have made six changes in their

side for the match against Scotland. Ronald Ross, the Rinaldo of the

glands -- Ronaldo of the glens is back. That's the sport, Sally, from

the Ronaldo of the glens to the duchess of the desk. He was one of

Scotland's best known singer/songwriters, famous for songs

like Baker Street and Stuck in the Middle With You. Now Gerry Rafferty

is the focus of a new exhibition, part of a wider festival, in his

home town of Paisley. Our arts correspondent Pauline McLean

reports. # Winding your way down on Baker Street # From the handwritten

lyrics of his greatest hit two gold discs that he modestly kept any

afternoon covered. -- in a bathroom cupboard, these are relics from

Gerry Rafferty was my career. He did not think he was a good wordsmith.

But his family decided there was scope for the whole festival around

Gerry Rafferty and his music. Music has always bought people together

and that is what I remembered as a child is being really important and

it is trying to keep that alive and keep the music going and keep that

happening in Paisley. Friends like John Byrne who created many of his

album covers are backing the festival and other friends will take

to the stage on what would have been Gerry Rafferty's 67. -- 67th

birthday. There is a Met Office yellow warning

for the Glasgow area. Drier and clearer conditions will feed into

the North and winds are just beginning to stretch up the West

Coast by morning. From LA tomorrow, we will see showers blowing in on a

strong wind across the country and potentially reaching full gale

force. Those showers will turn to snow over the hills at first. Over

the afternoon, the showers will become less frequent but they will

turn wintry on the lower levels. It will feel cold in that brisk

westerly wend but I think we will see more sunshine come through in

the afternoon and it should become drier with some sunshine for the

afternoon. As we head towards evening we see a ridge of high

pressure building and the winds will ease a little with a lot of dry

weather overnight. You will see a weather front approaching for

Saturday but here she comes -- an area of high pressure pushing in for

next week which looks like staying with us for a good few days. Over

Saturday, it starts off wet and windy but the rain clears away to

the north and drier and brighter conditions follow on across Scotland

and we see those temperatures rise again and it will become mild.