:00:00. > :00:00.Korean ferry capsized. That's all from the BBC
:00:00. > :00:11.Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: The dispute at the Grangemouth
:00:12. > :00:15.petrochemical plant was the biggest single factor in the slow the growth
:00:16. > :00:17.in the economy here at the end of last year.
:00:18. > :00:21.Also on the programme: Hearts' financial fortunes look to be on the
:00:22. > :00:24.up as a Lithuanian bank agrees to sell its stake in the club.
:00:25. > :00:27.We are in the Orkney islands as activists there campaign for more
:00:28. > :00:29.control over their affairs regardless of the outcome of the
:00:30. > :00:32.vote on independence. And Team Scotland unveiled: Michael
:00:33. > :00:45.Jamieson and the rest of the team who will battle it out in the pool
:00:46. > :01:03.for at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Pressure is the result of support.
:01:04. > :01:06.Support is a positive thing. Good evening. The dispute at the
:01:07. > :01:10.Grangemouth petrochemical plant had an impact on the whole of Scotland's
:01:11. > :01:16.economy - bringing growth here well below the figure for the rest of the
:01:17. > :01:19.UK at the end of last year. We've also seen mixed results on jobs in
:01:20. > :01:23.Scotland, with more people out of work in the winter. Our business and
:01:24. > :01:28.economy editor, Douglas Fraser is here with more.
:01:29. > :01:31.Lots of numbers today. Let's start with that estimate from the Scottish
:01:32. > :01:35.Government of total output from every part of the economy between
:01:36. > :01:39.October and December last year. That was up only 0.2 per cent, while UK
:01:40. > :01:44.growth was up by a much healthier 0.7 per cent. The service sector was
:01:45. > :01:48.stronger, in transport, hotels and catering. But that shutdown of
:01:49. > :01:51.Grangemouth petrochemical plant had its effect. Its owner, Ineos,
:01:52. > :01:55.abruptly shut it down in an industrial dispute last October.
:01:56. > :01:59.That was quickly resolved, but it took many weeks to fire it up again:
:02:00. > :02:04.So chemicals output across the economy down 11 per cent. Also
:02:05. > :02:07.today, the latest official estimate of Scots seeking work in the winter
:02:08. > :02:11.months: Up 3,000, but with the number available for work on the
:02:12. > :02:15.rise, it's possible also to have the number of Scots in work also up, by
:02:16. > :02:20.16,000. That means the Scottish unemployment rate is at 6.5 per cent
:02:21. > :02:23.- that's lower than the UK figure. So while the recovery seems under
:02:24. > :02:26.way, there are also questions about the quality of those jobs being
:02:27. > :02:34.created, as Andrew Anderson reports from Dundee.
:02:35. > :02:42.This is the view of Dundee that currently greets visitors to the
:02:43. > :02:47.city. The ?1 billion transformation of the waterfront. Demolition
:02:48. > :02:56.workers and construction teams are hard at work. The investment, it is
:02:57. > :03:02.hoped, will create thousands of new jobs.
:03:03. > :03:07.We have been deliberate and trying to ensure that during the period of
:03:08. > :03:11.the recession that we undertook as much infrastructure work as we
:03:12. > :03:16.possibly could and to guarantee as much as possible for local
:03:17. > :03:24.employment. The latest figures have been
:03:25. > :03:32.released as trade Unionists meet. Here there is concern that the
:03:33. > :03:37.cavalry is not stronger. -- that the recovery is not
:03:38. > :03:45.stronger. There are lots of things to be
:03:46. > :03:54.worried about. Back on the waterfront they are
:03:55. > :04:02.getting on with the job. Dundee still has pockets of serious
:04:03. > :04:05.deprivation. But those behind this project are convinced it will help
:04:06. > :04:11.put the city on a firmer economic footing.
:04:12. > :04:15.We also got the latest on pay this morning. Britain-wide, it's risen by
:04:16. > :04:18.1.7 per cent in the past year. That's very slightly ahead of the
:04:19. > :04:21.price inflation figure we got yesterday. It's significant that pay
:04:22. > :04:24.is ahead of inflation, at last, but it comes after a big fall in
:04:25. > :04:27.consumer spending power over recent years. Jackie.
:04:28. > :04:30.The future of Hearts appears more secure after the Edinburgh club took
:04:31. > :04:34.a major step towards exiting administration. Creditors of a
:04:35. > :04:38.collapsed Lithuanian bank that owns Tynecastle Stadium and a 30% stake
:04:39. > :04:43.in the club, have agreed to sell their shares. Our reporter Brian
:04:44. > :04:47.McLauchlin has been following the story and is at Tynecastle. Brian,
:04:48. > :04:58.good news after a turbulent year for the club.
:04:59. > :05:03.It has been ten months of turmoil since Hearts entered
:05:04. > :05:08.Administration. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Soon
:05:09. > :05:17.Hearts could be exiting administration.
:05:18. > :05:20.The supporters in full voice despite watching their beloved team being
:05:21. > :05:26.relegated from the top flight in Scottish football. A much bigger
:05:27. > :05:33.worry work events off the pitch. The collapse of former owner glad your
:05:34. > :05:44.Romanovs business empire left the existence of Hearts in doubt. --
:05:45. > :05:50.Vladimir Romanov's business empire. The stumbling block now was Ukio
:05:51. > :05:57.Bank. They are credit cards asked for more time. They have now agreed
:05:58. > :06:07.to sell. We have overcome the main one. We
:06:08. > :06:11.are 90% of the way there. A supporters group will eventually
:06:12. > :06:20.take over. In the interim this does this woman will take over.
:06:21. > :06:26.We are looking forward to signing contracts with her very shortly.
:06:27. > :06:33.On the streets supporters are breathing a sigh of relief. It is
:06:34. > :06:42.like winning the lottery. They deserve to be saved. That is
:06:43. > :06:49.excellent news. The club needs to stay alive and progress.
:06:50. > :06:57.There are some technical issues to be completed before a deal can be
:06:58. > :07:00.finalised, but it now looks certain that the supporters group and the
:07:01. > :07:04.businesswoman will take over the club.
:07:05. > :07:09.A 10-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital after he was knocked off
:07:10. > :07:12.his bike in Aberdeenshire. The accident happened at lunchtime on a
:07:13. > :07:15.country road at Longside near Peterhead. He was treated at the
:07:16. > :07:18.scene before being flown to hospital in Aberdeen by air ambulance. He's
:07:19. > :07:23.believed to have suffered head injuries but his condition isn't yet
:07:24. > :07:34.known. His condition is now said to be CVS.
:07:35. > :07:37.-- now said to be serious. As we consider whether or not to
:07:38. > :07:40.vote for independence, a campaign for greater powers is gathering pace
:07:41. > :07:44.in the Outer Hebrides and the Northern Isles. Campaigners say they
:07:45. > :07:47.want to see more control at a local level - whatever the result of
:07:48. > :07:50.September's referendum. James Cook reports from Kirkwall in Orkney.
:07:51. > :07:58.Orkney looks, feels and sounds different. A slower pace of life. A
:07:59. > :08:03.reluctance to talk politics. But scratch the surface and opinions are
:08:04. > :08:15.strong. The Yes campaign are offering more
:08:16. > :08:22.of a future and more positivity. I am an sure which way to go. I do
:08:23. > :08:34.know that Edinburgh is closer to Orkney than London.
:08:35. > :08:38.There is still support for the Union here but for some choosing between
:08:39. > :08:42.Edinburgh and London is beside the point. The debate about the future
:08:43. > :08:48.of Scotland is very different here in Orkney.
:08:49. > :08:55.As one island has said, we are either ruled from a long way away,
:08:56. > :08:59.or a longer way away. The islanders have come up with a
:09:00. > :09:05.plan. Orkney has joined Shetland and the Outer Hebrides in a council of
:09:06. > :09:13.the Isles pushing for local control of local issues such as fishing,
:09:14. > :09:19.ferries. They need to be empowered to make
:09:20. > :09:27.their own decisions. We like to fix things ourselves.
:09:28. > :09:32.The plan is netting support. The Scottish Government and the Labour
:09:33. > :09:38.Party are both enthusiastic. So too is their UK Government.
:09:39. > :09:47.We do very well be a part of the UK. Centralisation from Edinburgh is
:09:48. > :09:53.just as dangerous as it is from London.
:09:54. > :09:59.That says that the voice of a man in opposition, but you are in
:10:00. > :10:07.Government. This should be more power and influence coming direct to
:10:08. > :10:12.the communities. It feels like a campaign on the
:10:13. > :10:24.move. Whatever happens to Scotland in September, these islands are
:10:25. > :10:31.hoping for a brighter future. Once he rival Sir Walter Scott, now
:10:32. > :10:35.he is largely unknown. SR Crockett could be due for a renaissance.
:10:36. > :10:38.In sport, We'll have more from Tynecastle as we talk live to the
:10:39. > :10:42.Hearts manager. And experience and youth combine to
:10:43. > :10:55.make up the Scotland swimming team for the Commonwealth Games in
:10:56. > :10:58.Glasgow. .
:10:59. > :11:02.Police are studying CCTV footage after a man was shot in both legs in
:11:03. > :11:13.Coatbridge, in what's been described as a targeted attack. Last weekend
:11:14. > :11:16.the Yes campaign pledged to bring more women into boardrooms and the
:11:17. > :11:19.Scottish Cabinet. Now the other side is trying to appeal to women voters
:11:20. > :11:22.with new pledges on fair pay, childcare and increased female
:11:23. > :11:29.representation in public life. Our political correspondent Lucy Adams
:11:30. > :11:35.reports. The battle for the female vote has
:11:36. > :11:41.begun. The key ingredients children, child care and rights for women,
:11:42. > :11:44.mixed in with a sprinkling of new pledges. The shadow Secretary of
:11:45. > :11:49.State for Scotland said she is offering women are better
:11:50. > :12:01.alternative. We want to make a real offer to
:12:02. > :12:05.women. It is not just to tick a box. This is about understanding the
:12:06. > :12:14.lives of women to make those lives better. The SNP say getting women
:12:15. > :12:18.into work is key. You have got to be serious about
:12:19. > :12:26.young people and women in particular. Women and young people
:12:27. > :12:29.are crucial to the economy. We want to create a Scotland that is not
:12:30. > :12:35.just feel, but there's more prosperous.
:12:36. > :12:40.It is a good year to be a woman in Scotland. Both sides of the
:12:41. > :12:46.referendum debate want your vote. Children and child care will be the
:12:47. > :12:53.key. Scottish Labour are offering 25 hours of free childcare. But the Yes
:12:54. > :13:04.campaign is pledging 30 hours of free childcare.
:13:05. > :13:12.Yes Scotland has also promised 40% representation of women on boards.
:13:13. > :13:16.Labour has pledged 50%. Better Together are now laying out
:13:17. > :13:26.their stall. What will it take to swing the female voter? Anything to
:13:27. > :13:32.do with childcare and education. It should be more broad. But are the
:13:33. > :13:40.campaigns focusing on the right issues? Childcare is an important
:13:41. > :13:49.issue for parents. But it is not clear that this is an issue that
:13:50. > :14:01.they will see is crucial at the ballot box.
:14:02. > :14:08.The race is on. Other stories from across the
:14:09. > :14:13.country: Inspectors have found major weaknesses in childcare services
:14:14. > :14:18.indent race and Galloway, leading to a warning that young and vulnerable
:14:19. > :14:24.people may not be safe. It follows a care Inspectorate review. The
:14:25. > :14:28.council has now appointed a new independent child protection
:14:29. > :14:34.committee responsible for improving services.
:14:35. > :14:37.An independent watchdog has thrown out claims that the Labour led
:14:38. > :14:44.administration in Aberdeen broke rules by sending out pro-letter
:14:45. > :14:56.together letters to residents along with council tax bills. -- pro
:14:57. > :15:00.Better Together. The Edinburgh school where a pupil
:15:01. > :15:06.was killed by a collapsed wall will reopen after Easter. The City
:15:07. > :15:13.Council has wrote to parents ensuring them structural engineers
:15:14. > :15:18.found no areas of concern. The gymnasium will remain closed for
:15:19. > :15:23.ongoing police investigations. Poppy seeds had been planted in the
:15:24. > :15:29.first of three fields in Aberdeen to commemorate the First World War.
:15:30. > :15:39.There will be a range of commemorations between New Year and
:15:40. > :15:42.the end of the year and it is important to strike the balance,
:15:43. > :15:49.this is in no way a celebration, it is a commemoration.
:15:50. > :15:59.In his day he rivalled Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson is a test
:16:00. > :16:09.selling author -- bestselling, but the popularity of SR Crocket, may be
:16:10. > :16:21.about to change bomb into a farming family in 1889 new Galloway. -- born
:16:22. > :16:27.into. This number one fan gave us a guided
:16:28. > :16:33.tour. Today a collection of novels is being republished, inspired by
:16:34. > :16:37.Crocket's love of Galloway and its people.
:16:38. > :16:45.When people can find these books easily again, they will really enjoy
:16:46. > :16:51.them. This represents about half of his lifetimes work. And they were
:16:52. > :16:59.extremely popular, spending years in the bestsellers list. The Raiders is
:17:00. > :17:09.the best-known work. It shifted 100,000 copies on the day it was
:17:10. > :17:18.published in 1894. He can do what you would call a gripping yarn. A
:17:19. > :17:27.superb storyteller. He made historic novels about the covenanters. People
:17:28. > :17:36.might not think they are about derring-do, but they are. Was he
:17:37. > :17:41.deemed too parochial? Did he go out of fashion? Or was he just unlucky
:17:42. > :17:48.to die on the eve of the outbreak of World War I? 100 years on, might
:17:49. > :17:58.this revival of the books preface a rebirth in popularity? You have
:17:59. > :18:07.brought Mr Crockett back home. Time for the sport now.
:18:08. > :18:16.As we have heard, Heart of Midlothian has taken a significant
:18:17. > :18:23.step to securing their future. I am joined by a very happy man
:18:24. > :18:27.indeed, the manager, Gary Locke. What went through your mind when you
:18:28. > :18:34.heard the news? Huge relief. I spoke to Brian this
:18:35. > :18:39.morning, he told me there was still a little bit to go. But it is a
:18:40. > :18:49.bonus for myself and every supporter. How tough have ten months
:18:50. > :18:53.of turmoil been? It has been a difficult season obviously, with
:18:54. > :19:04.everything that to us last summer, it was not pleasant to CB be losing
:19:05. > :19:07.their jobs. -- to see people. But over the last couple of months you
:19:08. > :19:16.can see the improvement in the team. But the weakest battle was always
:19:17. > :19:22.surviving. -- biggest. It has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I am
:19:23. > :19:28.so pleased for everybody at the football club, especially the
:19:29. > :19:34.supporters. Their effort has been remarkable and looks like it will
:19:35. > :19:42.pay off. You have been relegated, but you can look on with great hope?
:19:43. > :19:46.We are still here. If you ask the supporters, it does not matter what
:19:47. > :19:53.league we play in, as long as Heart of Midlothian are alive and kicking.
:19:54. > :19:56.We still have a little bit to go, we should not get carried away, but a
:19:57. > :20:02.full house on Saturday would be great, and opportunity for myself
:20:03. > :20:08.and the players to thank the supporters for all their backing
:20:09. > :20:14.during a couple of difficult years. Ross County will visit on Saturday,
:20:15. > :20:21.I think it would be quite exciting. Michael Jamieson is only aiming for
:20:22. > :20:28.one medal in the pool, and that is called. He has been named in the
:20:29. > :20:37.aquatic team for the summer games. -- gold. Meet the latest selections
:20:38. > :20:44.for team Scotland. They hope to make a splash after being selected. The
:20:45. > :20:53.team is a 40 strong, the largest ever sent by Scotland to a
:20:54. > :20:59.Commonwealth Games. 38 swimming, two diving. And the expectation will be
:21:00. > :21:05.great for some, especially those who have had success at a home Olympics.
:21:06. > :21:13.The support is obviously positive and has to be looked at like that. I
:21:14. > :21:18.am keeping on top of it and looking forward to delivering the result
:21:19. > :21:28.everybody wants. Along with experience, the team both bright
:21:29. > :21:33.stars. -- boasts. It is one of the biggest stages I will ever perform
:21:34. > :21:40.on. I want to get faster and faster and get a medal.
:21:41. > :21:47.Amongst the divers, this 16-year-old can be to a family member for
:21:48. > :21:56.advice. Sir Peter Heasley won three gold medals in three games during
:21:57. > :22:00.the 1950s. I don't really get advice from my grandfather, just little
:22:01. > :22:07.words of encouragement, and he is always there if I want. The team
:22:08. > :22:12.will hope to add to the medals Scotland have won in the pool so far
:22:13. > :22:20.and the Commonwealth Games. Here's what else is happening across
:22:21. > :22:26.Scottish sport. Elena Baltacha's Battle against liver cancer will be
:22:27. > :22:33.aided by a rally this summer involving Tim Henman and Andy
:22:34. > :22:37.Murray, fundraising in June. Graeme Dott has failed to qualify for the
:22:38. > :22:40.world Snooker Championships. But Alan McManus will be there after
:22:41. > :22:48.beating the former champion, Mark Williams. Scottish football's annual
:22:49. > :22:53.awards will be handed out soon. A contender for championship player of
:22:54. > :23:00.the year believes that title chasing Dundee can hang on to top spot. It
:23:01. > :23:06.will go to the last day. Hamilton are on our tails. But it is in our
:23:07. > :23:16.hands. Win three games, become champions. Rob Harley has given
:23:17. > :23:30.Glasgow Warriors's a boost by agreeing to year -- to a two year
:23:31. > :23:33.contract. People across the country are taking
:23:34. > :23:39.to the water during the Easter holidays. Amongst them, for the
:23:40. > :23:47.first time, a group of visually impaired sailors, piloting their way
:23:48. > :23:54.around the Clyde coast. 32 sailors navigating their way around the
:23:55. > :24:02.coast. It was a very pleasant. So what? Nothing particularly unusual
:24:03. > :24:08.about that, at this time of year. But this group are visually
:24:09. > :24:13.impaired. It is a real hands-on experience, as I'm about to find
:24:14. > :24:19.out. I think I'm going the right way!
:24:20. > :24:26.They do have some help on board to ensure they do not go astray. This
:24:27. > :24:31.compass helps the visually impaired sailors go in the correct direction.
:24:32. > :24:40.If the pitch changes, time to change course. Ensuring they do not collide
:24:41. > :24:48.with other vessels, or, equally as important, the land. It is
:24:49. > :24:57.facilitating people so that they are empowered to do tasks, with some
:24:58. > :25:02.tuition and guidance. On such a small vessel, no hiding place. Blind
:25:03. > :25:10.or not, all hands are needed on deck. I did a lot of sailing with my
:25:11. > :25:16.husband. Over time, my sight deteriorated. I am now almost
:25:17. > :25:26.totally blind. When I heard about this trip, I jumped at the
:25:27. > :25:32.opportunity. We can sit here, we know it is set up nicely, and if you
:25:33. > :25:40.can feel that, you don't need to see it. Due to the relatively calm
:25:41. > :25:44.waters and temperature, these sailors believe the Clyde estuary is
:25:45. > :25:52.the ideal place to learn their craft. But you cannot always
:25:53. > :25:54.guarantee such fine weather! No, you can do. Let's see what it
:25:55. > :26:05.has in store. Some unsettled weather coming our
:26:06. > :26:12.way. But the Easter weekend is looking fine. This band of rain
:26:13. > :26:16.across the north-west will continue to move south during the course of
:26:17. > :26:25.the evening. It will become confined to the south but behind it when they
:26:26. > :26:35.will strengthen. -- winds. Not a cold night. Five Celsius for most.
:26:36. > :26:41.Tomorrow starts with a breeze. Blustery showers, quite heavy at
:26:42. > :26:48.times, squally in nature. But they will move south and it will be an
:26:49. > :26:54.improving day for most of us. Still showers affecting Shetland and
:26:55. > :27:01.Orkney. Quite windy, a strong north-westerly, feeling colder than
:27:02. > :27:07.the mainland. One or two showers in the north coast, quite a lot of
:27:08. > :27:14.sunshine coming through, right through the Southern Highlands to
:27:15. > :27:17.the Dundee area. Just a few scattered showers, but it will
:27:18. > :27:28.improve, temperatures reaching 13 in the East. The legacy of cloud will
:27:29. > :27:33.clear the way and in the evening some lovely sunny spells and losing
:27:34. > :27:39.strong winds. High pressure coming our way for the Easter weekend, very
:27:40. > :27:46.pleasant conditions indeed. Friday, a cold start initially, then
:27:47. > :27:55.sunshine first light, string that way for much of the day. -- staying.
:27:56. > :27:57.Saturday, potentially 17 degrees, some rain pushing into the outer
:27:58. > :28:08.Hebrides later in the day. I will be back with the headlines at
:28:09. > :28:10.8pm and the late bulletin after the ten o'clock news. Enjoy the rest of
:28:11. > :28:13.your evening. Goodbye.