01/05/2014 Reporting Scotland

back in the 1970s. That is all from the BBC News At Six.

Tonight on Reporting Scotland: After yesterday's damning report into the

baby ashes scandal, we speak to a former manager at the Mortonhall

Crematorium. He apologised to the families for their distress, but

said that in the 30 years he worked there he never saw anyone break the

code of practice. My experience of the staff at Mortonhall are kind and

caring and considerate people. They operated to the highest standards.

Tonight, the Scottish Government is considering the families' request

for a public inquiry. Also on the programme: Alex Salmond

defends his qualified praise for Vladimir Putin in a magazine

defends his qualified praise for interview after Labour accuses him

of damaging Scotland's reputation. The Olympic gold medal won by the

of damaging Scotland's reputation. curler Rhona Martin is stolen in

of damaging Scotland's reputation. raid on a Dumfries museum. We'll be

speaking to her live. We're in the ocean off Belize as the

Commonwealth Games baton reaches the central American country. You cannot

travel in stormy weather. And the play about the Scots weather

forecaster whose advice to allied commanders saved thousands of lives

on D-day. Good evening. One of the former

managers of Edinburgh's Mortonhall crematorium - which has been

criticised for the way it dealt with babies' ashes - says he'd welcome a

public inquiry and has nothing to hide. He believes some staff have

been made scapegoats and that the Scottish Government should have

introduced clearer legislation years ago. Our reporter, Julie Peacock is

at Mortonhall for us tonight. What happened here at Mortonhall

crematorium has been described to day is a four decade long tragedy.

Since the report was published yesterday, it has been referred to

police, who are now considering whether or not there is a case for a

criminal investigation into what happened here. We have been speaking

to one of the former managers here at Mortonhall, who says South having

blamed. For 30 years, Dave was a manager at Mortonhall in Edinburgh.

He says he is appalled by some of the criticisms levelled at him in

the report, and says that the managers have been made scapegoats.

But he is sorry for the distress caused to parents. Hoo-mac I can

understand the distress and upset, especially in the report that has

been published. I would also apologise to them, but maybe they

have not been advised on the proper outcomes of the recovery of cremated

remains, ashes, by other front-line professionals. They would have

doubts with the funeral arrangements for these families.

He says Westminster and the Scottish Government had been warned about the

lack of legislation since the late 80s, but have done little to make

the all clear. I think in hindsight maybe if the Scottish Government had

acted on that, we might not have been having this conversation

today. And these parents would not have been upset and distressed in

the manner in which they have been. At Saint meeting in Edinburgh City

Council, a profound apology was referred -- offered any working

group set up to date show the same thing doesn't happen again. The

group will be made up by a child bereavement category -- charity, but

this is not about pushing blame. We are responsible in some way for

ensuring that the recommendations, these practices don't happen again.

It is not appropriate at this time when we have just report -- Mother's

Day report to start pointing fingers at people. Councils in Edinburgh say

it is not just the City Council who consider how baby's ashes are

connected. This is a Scotland wide issue, and the report will have an

impact across the country. That's the question, isn't it? What

extent is this practice been happening in other parts of the

country? Hole we have been speaking to councils across Scotland, in some

like Aberdeen in Glasgow have already carried out independent

audits into their cremation practice. Aberdeen have found

possibly 40 historical cases of parents not knowing what has

happened to their children's ashes, and in Glasgow so far, they say they

have discovered only one case where this has happened. Other councils

however say they are not going to give any figures until after the

report, which is looking at cremation practices across the whole

of Scotland, and that report is expected to be published at the end

of may. However, because of the real lack of legislation in this area

are, what happened here at Mortonhall is unlikely to be unique.

Thank you. The First Minister has robustly

defended his qualified praise for Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Pressed by opponents at Holyrood to withdraw, Alex Salmond said he had

consistently challenged Russia's record on both human rights and

Ukraine. Labour said he had "damaged Scotland's reputation". More from

our political editor, Brian Taylor. GQ magazine out

our political editor, Brian Taylor. Salmond's praise for the media

tycoon Rupert Murdoch. But pressed by the magazine, or whether he

admires the Russian President Vladimir Putin, he replies, certain

aspects. He has restored a substantial part of Russian pride,

and that must be a good thing. That interview was conducted on March the

14th, before the Russian annexation of crime ER, but say critics while

the crisis was Yalding. The magazine interviewer was Alastair Campbell,

Tony Blair's former spin doctor. Alex Salmond stresses that his

praise of Vladimir Putin is strictly qualified, and that he condemns

Russia's stance on Ukraine. But Labour said any support for the

Russian leader was indefensible. Putin says acts like the annex in

Crimea have restored Russian pride. Alex Salmond has praised Putin for

restoring Russian pride. Does the First Minister, even at this stage,

not see his comments were at best ill judged, and must be withdrawn?

Although opposition leaders joined in. How can we trust the first

minister to represent Scotland in the global stage when he so

consistently gets it wrong? First Minister wants us to stand tall in

the world. But doesn't he just look small? Mr Salmond said his

government had consistently criticised Russia over Ukraine and

human rights, won nothing had been heard from his opponents. we have

spelt out and said that we don't support Russian attitudes towards

human rights or indeed homosexuality. We have done these

things consistently throughout this year. We didn't want to alight on

the issue as part of a combined Better Together political

opportunity. We set these things before,

opportunity. We set these things leader hosts the Winter Olympics.

Alex Salmond stressed that his reference to Russian pride had been

solely about the Sochi Games. He will now write to Ukrainians in

Scotland, spelling out his stance in an effort to dispel this

controversy. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's programme: We're with the

Queen's baton relay in Belize, as part of its journey around the

Commonwealth. In sport: With Hibs hovering just

above a relegation play-off place, their manager tells us he has a

plan. And high-flying Glasgow Warriors

check in for another stage - en route to the Pro 12 play-offs,

perhaps? Details later. We've heard the opinion of plenty of

big companies on the independence debate, but what about small and

medium-sized firms. Well, a survey for the Scottish Chamber of Commerce

- representing small and medium sized businesses - suggests it's

pretty poor, to say the least. It wants both sides to raise their game

and give greater wants both sides to raise their game

economics correspondent, Colletta Smith, explains.

Businesses have been blasting both sides of the referendum debate,

saying the information so far has been unhelpful, useless, and Paul.

Firms like this renewable energy company are carefully weighing the

possibilities and opportunities for themselves. I suppose transparency

would be the ultimate thing you could ask for Tom to know exactly

how it is going to roll-out without it being two sided. What is best for

the country, what the true negatives are, the true positives, and if you

could get that, it would be a much simpler process. Many companies like

this biotech firm in Glasgow put currency high up on the list of

important issues. In terms of currency, we are currently working

with British pounds, euros and dollars, so we need to know what we

are going to be working with over the next few years once the debate

is over and the referendum result or out, so we know how we're going to

cope with that. The Chamber of Commerce represents lots of small

businesses, and they are carefully staying neutral in the debate, but

findings from today's survey can -- send a strong message to both sides.

The quality and content of the debate and the information being

presented by all political parties is just not coming up to the mark.

It is allowing businesses not to plan ahead and be quite clear in

terms of risk and opportunity. When it comes to playing up the pros and

cons, 53% say they do see new opportunities for their business

under independence, especially those working memory within Scotland. At

the same time, 77% saw new risks for the company after you spoke, and it

is particularly concerning for those operating across the UK. 80% say

they would consider moving away a Scotland vote for independence. 760

members of the chamber completed the survey, but that is only 10% of

their membership, so this is just a snapshot. It does represent views

from across the country and different sectors of the economy.

A primary head schoolteacher has died in a car crash in Aberdeen.

35-year-old Susan Crossan died in the two car crash yesterday evening.

She was headteacher at a primary school in the city. Her family have

described her as a wonderful wife and mother, whose loss cannot

adequately be put into words. Now, you might remember this from

the Winter Olympics of 2002. It needs to be absolutely perfect and

right in the centre. It is looking good. She has done at! Yes, this was

the moment when the all-Scottish curling team, led by Rhona Martin,

won the gold medal at Salt Lake City. Well, Rhona's gold medal was

stolen late last night from a curling exhibition at Dumfries

Museum. Rhona Howie joins us now from her home in Ayr. Thanks for

joining us. When did you find out about this? I was actually down

south today at a conference, and I got a phone call when I got back

into the car to tell me that they had been a braking, and

unfortunately the medal was part of the goods that were taken, so not

the best news. Is your medal on permanent loan to the museum, or do

you keep that I'm normally? It is normally at home. It was a great

exhibition that they had set up. It was just down there so two months

online. How important is this medal to you? It is of huge sentimental

value. As an athlete, you train day in day out to compete in the Olympic

Games, and to win a gold medal is every athlete's drain, and it was a

wonderful experience for me, so over the years, the medal has brought joy

to so many people. When I visit schools and children feel it, it

inspires people, so to not have that, it is huge part of my life

that is missing. Is likely to be valuable to the person who has taken

a? not likely. I don't know what somebody else would do with an

Olympic gold medal. They can't show it off or sell it to anybody, so I

don't know what else they would do with it. Your message to them?

Please can I have it back? It means a lot to me and my family, and I

would like to have it back. Thank you very much for joining us. Let's

take a look now at other stories from across the country.

Work is set to begin on a ?22 million cancer treatment centre,

based at Monklands General Hospital in Airdrie. The Lanarkshire Beatson

will handle up to 80 patients a day who require treatment for lung,

breast, prostate and rectal cancers. It's expected to begin treating

patients in about 18 months. The IT firm Fujitsu is almost to

double its workforce in Allness, and says it could employ up to 60 people

in the next couple of years. The company currently employs 25 at its

service desk in the Easter Ross town, dealing with 11,000 calls a

month. Fujitsu employs hundreds at other sites in Scotland.

Prison officers, wearing protective body armour, have been needed to

break up trouble at the new Grampian super jail in Peterhead. The

Scottish Prison Service says the incident on Tuesday is unrelated to

another two weeks ago involving a young offender.

The 34th Shetland Folk Festival was launched today. Acts and visitors

from all over the world have gathered for the four- day festival.

It's been estimated that the event is worth up to ?500,000 pounds to

the local economy each year. Today is Gaelic Twitter day - and Social

Media Scotland want to increase the number of people using Gaelic on

Twitter. They're hoping that the hashtag #'Gaidhlig will appear

regularly throughout the day. Similar initiatives are ongoing to

attract people's attention to other minority languages, such as Irish

Gaelic and Frisian. The annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky

Festival is under way in Moray. A permanent art installation is being

unveiled at the Aberlour distillery, showing images of whisky production

in microscopic detail. The celebration of Scotland's national

drink takes place over five days. The Queen's button really is

continuing its journey around the Commonwealth in the build-up to the

games here this season. McDermott has been following the baton and he

has been in Belize on the Central coast of Africa. It is the only

country in the area with English as its main language. He met up with a

triathlete hoping their first time at the games will inspire a new

generation of competitors. The arrival of the Queen spat on and

up a huge amount of support in Belize city. The main town of San

Pedro was once a sleepy fishing village. Now, it is a tourist

hotspot. And for this triathlete, it is also his unusual training ground.

I would like to see what other Commonwealth

I would like to see what other bikes like this on roads like this.

Oh, yes. This is what I am accustomed to and how I know how to

write best. Most of his time is taken up running a football club and

triathlon club for youngsters. What are you worried about? Drugs and

gangs. are you worried about? Drugs and

worry about four children here on the islands. It deeply affects our

worry about four children here on community. Do

worry about four children here on representing believe that the

Commonwealth games well, that cause? representing believe that the

Yes, definitely. I want them to want to be the next guy to represent

Belize. If I can, they can to. This is one young man who is turning his

life around after spending time with the triathlete. After spending a

short amount of time in jail, he now wants to focus on football. I am

going to keep out of trouble and try to be someone. Another teenager he

introduced to triathlon has become the national junior champion. I want

to go and compete in different countries and hopefully sometime in

the future go to the Olympics. Kent is still a novice when it comes to

international triathlon but competing at the Commonwealth Games

will be a win in it self. A win which

teenagers at home in Belize. Here's David with the sport.

The Hibs manager Terry Butcher says supporters association says fans are

behind manager Terry Butcher to a dreadful run of results means that

they are in danger of falling into a relegation spot as the last matches

of the season approach. Unhappy fans on Saturday as they

succumbed to another defeat. But the head of supporters said that more

fans are backing the manager to eventually put things right. I think

the fans are still supporting him. There is no doubt about that. They

will give him time to get himself together. They definitely still back

him. He Bernie and have lost their last six fixtures and scored only

two goals in that period but the manager finds -- feels he is close

to finding a remedy for that. I have been searching and searching for a

blend, formation, our way of playing and I am really pleased the guys

went out and played that way. They have got to take it forward

went out and played that way. They the match on Saturday. We cannot

wait for the game to come. Next up for them are Partick this all who

are also involved in the battle to stay in the league. Their manager

says that they will be dangerous opponents. They were dangerous last

week. People are writing here Bernie and off and I don't think that a

sensible. Everybody has got to take some blame and everybody has got

together in numbers to support the team. Hopefully they will turn out

on Saturday and not leave early. In rugby, a win for the Glasgow

Warriors tomorrow could see them close to a final.

One of the fastest men in Scottish rugby is back after a short break.

They are justifiably confident. They have won the last six matches and

amassed 26 points in the process and a very much the inform team on the

pro 12. However, their head a very much the inform team on the

says that they must improve their leaky defence. We lapsed

concentration at times and conceded two tries. We have worked hard this

week and we will be tough to beat. The attack has been going well.

Creating that quick all whenever we get the opportunity and seizing

those opportunities. Glasgow are currently second in the table and

looked safely in the play-offs own. Maintaining a second-place finish

would mean that they achieve their efficient -- that ambition. It is a

goal about to make the semifinals and finals but if we can get the

crowds behind us, great crowd, great support, we want to keep building on

that. But first, they are travelling to Italy with the prospect of a

determined side trying to cause an upset on home soil.

De Saint in captain will be allowed to carry on with their attempts to

turn the season around. His red card has been adult has his -- as has his

three-month ban. He combines a number of good qualities. According

to their manager, they are the form side in the bottom half of the

league. We have beaten a number of teams in the league and have done

really well. We are delighted with the momentum that we are taking into

the last three games of the season. The manager of already relegated

Hearts says the appointment of a club chaplain might help explain the

club's recent run of good form. He speaks to the players and if they

have anything to get off of their test, it helps. It is great.

The second fastest man in the world is coming to Glasgow in July. He

will run in the Diamond league meeting. And you can keep up-to-date

with all the latest news at your own pace on the BBC Scotland website.

James Stagg is credited with saving tens of thousands of lives during

the D-day landings, the offensive that eventually led to Allied

victory in the Second World War. But the Group Captain from Dalkeith

never fired a shot and never set foot on Normandy's beaches. He was a

weather man and now his remarkable story is being told on stage in

Edinburgh. Cameron Buttle reports. Surely now you cannot contends that

the channel will avoid stormy weather. It proves nothing... Group

Captain James Stagg, the son of a plumber from Scotland, the story of

a weatherman who delayed the D-day landings. He persuaded President

Eisenhower, against all the advice of the American meteorologist, lupus

bone D-day by 24 hours and if he hadn't done, 70,000 or 80,000 men

would have died crossing the Channel. The craft used for the

crossing where flat bottomed, unstable, and if they had gone the

day before, a storm would have wiped out the Allied attack. This is the

untold story, the incredible story, of one Scots involvement in the

D-day landing. Ultimately, his decision is credited with saving

tens of thousands of lives. James Stark won his battle with the Allied

commanders. The D-day landings took place in Fairweather on June six,

1944. They are said to have shortened the war by two years.

How is that for pressure? Could you have done that?

Probably not! Today's whether was quite cold, with unsettled

conditions working their way south. This cold front here is bringing

much cooler conditions in from the north and settling things down. This

evening, largely dry but turning cold. Some sunshine around. One or

two light showers across eastern areas. Largely dry, but under those

clear skies, it will be cold. Here are the temperatures in towns and

cities. In rural parts of the country, potentially minus 30-4. It

certainly will be a chilly start to tomorrow but the weather will be

Dry, bright and sunny. The cloud Dry, bright and sunny. The cloud

will build, but much better than today because there will be blue sky

around. Temperature wise, even with that sunshine, they will not be

shooting up the that sunshine, they will not be

we are in is that the colder. But 12 or 11 degrees, feeling better. Maybe

the odd chance of a shower across the hills. For the Northern Isles,

another sunny day. Into the afternoon and overnight, staying

dry, bright and sunny, but once again, her colder night than this

coming night, so gardeners and growers, beware. The weekend,

high-pressure overhead. This weather front at West is trying to edit way

in and spoil the party. Potentially cladding over in the West with the

risk of some light rain and drizzle by the end of the day. That bit

milder as well. Sunday is another dry day, potentially with wet

weather on the north coast. Again, bank holiday Monday looking good as

well. I will be back with the headlines at

8pm and the late I will be back with the headlines at

10:25pm. Join me then if