:00:10. > :00:12.The controversial Beauly Denny powerline has been switched
:00:13. > :00:18.It's been described as a "power super highway" between the Highlands
:00:19. > :00:21.But its opponents continue to question the cost
:00:22. > :00:38.Our environment correspondent, David Miller, reports.
:00:39. > :00:48.Our journey starts here. There are 640 more ahead of us. It is only
:00:49. > :00:57.when you take to the skies it at a rail view on this project. There are
:00:58. > :01:06.pylon cables and hell tracks as well. We headed south. -- Hill
:01:07. > :01:12.tracts. It is massive. It is one of the longest lines in the United
:01:13. > :01:18.Kingdom and it crosses a number of passes. It is 2500 feet above sea
:01:19. > :01:27.level. The line can resultwas a day
:01:28. > :01:29.from wind farms in thenorth It's a privilege argue
:01:30. > :01:35.that we are seeing the industrialisation
:01:36. > :01:35.of Scottishmountain landscapes. Very few people would claim
:01:36. > :01:36.now that they've is just You can see that it is having
:01:37. > :01:40.a major impact particularly from the tracks that were built
:01:41. > :01:45.to put these pylons in. One of the major
:01:46. > :01:45.conditions was that these tracks would be removed from these
:01:46. > :01:47.places and that is not happening Environmentally, it
:01:48. > :01:59.will have a big impact. Power companies insist they have
:02:00. > :02:02.worked hard to minimise the impact, especially in the
:02:03. > :02:06.Cairngorms National Park. In total we have moved
:02:07. > :02:06.109 kilometres of line But this half of the length
:02:07. > :02:15.of the Beauly to Dennyline. That is something that
:02:16. > :02:17.people do not recognise. It was a significant
:02:18. > :02:18.reduction in landscape The power line might need
:02:19. > :02:28.conducting but the debate goes Tomorrow, we headed south
:02:29. > :02:29.following the line as it heads towards Scotland's
:02:30. > :02:32.industrial heartland. The UK Government's been accused
:02:33. > :02:38.of failing to respond early enough to warnings about a crisis
:02:39. > :02:38.in the steel industry - where 270 jobs have been lost
:02:39. > :02:40.in Scotland in recent months. The workers were laid off
:02:41. > :02:42.in October, after the closure of Tata steel plants
:02:43. > :02:47.at Dalzell and Clydebridge. But ministers insist they did
:02:48. > :02:47.all they could to protect steel makers here from cheaper
:02:48. > :03:10.Chinese imports. The steelworks have wound down for
:03:11. > :03:19.the fast Tech -- Hephaestus break. 270 jobs were going, the firm
:03:20. > :03:22.blaming cheap imports and high electricity costs. Now MPs say that
:03:23. > :03:30.other European countries took steps to protect their steel workers while
:03:31. > :03:37.ministers in the UK failed to react. We have had examples recently where
:03:38. > :03:41.the government stepped in. What we are seeing quite clearly, we have to
:03:42. > :03:47.make sure we have sustainability of the steel industry in the UK that
:03:48. > :03:50.gives value, because if we lose this industry, all that happens is that
:03:51. > :03:59.we import. Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to leave no turned an turned
:04:00. > :04:05.to save the industry. -- no stone unturned. The unions maintain that
:04:06. > :04:09.up to four potential buyers have shown interest but it is too late
:04:10. > :04:16.for the workers who have already taken a redundancy deal. Across
:04:17. > :04:20.Europe, Steelworkers have faced huge challenges. China has been accused
:04:21. > :04:26.of... The UK Government says it is doing all he can to help the
:04:27. > :04:30.industry. There is no-one simple solution but it is taking clear
:04:31. > :04:36.action on relief for energy costs. The steel energy has played a vital
:04:37. > :04:40.role in the history of Scotland for more than 150 years. Its fate might
:04:41. > :04:47.be sealed in a matter of weeks. When a worker 's return after the festive
:04:48. > :04:50.break they will be hoping that the new year rings festive news, but the
:04:51. > :04:51.return and generate could see them finishing up orders and continuing
:04:52. > :05:06.to prepare for closure of the plant. A company's been fined ?200,000
:05:07. > :05:06.after a worker was gassed to death Dundee Sheriff Court heard there had
:05:07. > :05:12.been inadequate safety precautions. Xervon Palmers Ltd admitted health
:05:13. > :05:16.and safety breaches. MSPs have called for a controversial
:05:17. > :05:18.type of gambling machine to be New powers to limit the spread
:05:19. > :05:21.of fixed odds betting terminals are being debated by MPs,
:05:22. > :05:27.but Holyrood's Local Government Committee wants all gaming
:05:28. > :05:27.and betting powers to be That is what these fixed odds
:05:28. > :05:41.betting terminals offer MSPs have been told that ease
:05:42. > :05:58.of access means that this can become Never any trouble at all,
:05:59. > :06:00.no previous trouble, had me that much that I would do
:06:01. > :06:08.absolutely anything for a bet. That was some other things
:06:09. > :06:08.going down that road, getting caught with that,
:06:09. > :06:11.I did all sorts of things, anything that would,
:06:12. > :06:17.my hands on money to feed these He was tempted by the opportunities
:06:18. > :06:27.to play roulette and blackjack MSPs say that this type of gambling
:06:28. > :06:40.should not be left to chance and they want these machines to be
:06:41. > :06:43.banned from the high Street. Many people describe these machines
:06:44. > :06:49.as the crack cocaine We have heard from people
:06:50. > :06:50.across Scotland who responded to our survey who have
:06:51. > :06:52.related their experiences They have become addicted
:06:53. > :07:01.to these machines. We have to look at what they have
:07:02. > :07:06.said and recognise that this is a very big problem and that
:07:07. > :07:16.action must betaken. Bookmakers said that they have
:07:17. > :07:16.developed measures to help those who may develop a problem
:07:17. > :07:25.with their gambling. They say the committee proposals
:07:26. > :07:29.would limit choice for the vast majority of customers
:07:30. > :07:35.to gamble responsibly, But MSPs are urging the Scottish
:07:36. > :07:44.and Westminster governments More than 700 sightings of basking
:07:45. > :07:53.sharks were recorded in the sea around the Inner Hebrides
:07:54. > :07:54.between April and October this year. The wildlife tour company
:07:55. > :07:57.Basking Shark Scotland said the bulk of the sightings were made
:07:58. > :07:59.in the seas around Mull, It's almost three times the number
:08:00. > :08:08.spotted in the previous year. Time now for the latest weather with
:08:09. > :08:15.Judith. That evening. As we approach the shortest day, it is looking
:08:16. > :08:17.rather wet and windy. It is predominantly dry at the moment but
:08:18. > :08:22.a weather front is approaching very soon, introducing outbreaks of rain
:08:23. > :08:25.tonight, coupled with gusty south westerly winds. We are looking at
:08:26. > :08:28.driving rain and the morning. We westerly winds. We are looking at
:08:29. > :08:39.have warnings for Southwest Scotland. The western borders could
:08:40. > :08:40.also see this terrain. It moves away quickly. The wind is going
:08:41. > :08:43.also see this terrain. It moves away West as we headed towards the course
:08:44. > :08:49.of the day. It brightens up and we West as we headed towards the course
:08:50. > :09:01.western and northern Scotland. A better picture, the rain...
:09:02. > :09:04.Sensitive ground here, so there are some Met Office warnings here, and
:09:05. > :09:15.arena for the Southwest as well. Mild across South East England,
:09:16. > :09:18.14-15dC. Everywhere is windy. In two the evening time, further showers
:09:19. > :09:24.coming in from the southwest and some of them will be heavy during
:09:25. > :09:29.the overnight period. Wednesday night into Thursday, have a very
:09:30. > :09:32.active area of low pressure pulling him towards us, bringing some wet
:09:33. > :09:37.weather but also strong winds. We could see some gale force winds
:09:38. > :09:45.towards the northwest of the mainland. The calm before the storm,
:09:46. > :09:48.there will be some showers in the north, but gradually, a lot of dry
:09:49. > :09:59.and bright sunny weather. The wind is picking up to towards the end of
:10:00. > :10:03.the day. Think you, that is all. We will be back at 6:25am tomorrow