20/01/2016 Reporting Scotland

weekend, milder, some sunshine and rain from time to time.

Many thanks. That's all from the BBC News at Six,

so it's goodbye from me. And on BBC One, we now join

the BBC's news teams where you are. The number of people in work

in Scotland reaches more than 2.6 The Government's own poverty

adviser calls for an end In an exclusive report,

we meet the Syrian refugees who've been adjusting to their

new life in Clydebank. We have come from hell to paradise?

What do you think would have happened to you had used days? We

would be dead. Scotland's food watchdog suggests

imposing a tax on sugar to improve I am in East Kilbride where two

little-known clubs will be playing for the right to host Celtic in the

next round of the Scottish cup. The number of Scots in work has

reached an all-time high. The latest official

figures show that more than 2.6 million

people have a job. The total grew by 21,000

between September and November. And it means levels of employment

have returned to where they were before the financial

crisis, more than seven years ago. Here's our business

correspondent, David Henderson. A new business teeing off in

Edinburgh. This shows wearable technology which allows golfers to

see how they have performed out on the course. As this market expands,

so does the company and its workforce. We have gone from a team

of three at the start of 2015 to a team of ten at the end of 2015.

We're about to move offices to a larger office. We have just launched

a product. We are running a pre-selling campaign. Success at

firms like this is helping to drive down the employment rate and bring

more people into the labour market. This latest rise in employment

levels means Scotland passes another milestone. The last time this number

of people were in work was before the financial crisis and the

recession that followed. That is more than seven years ago. There has

been a bit of a problem since the recession in that Scotland has

created fewer full-time jobs, more part-time jobs, and fewer

self-employment jobs. So, although the employment figures as a whole

are going up, the composition is not as good as it is in the rest of the

UK. And problems remain. Falling oil prices mean thousands of jobs lost

in the offshore industry. Today the trend continued with one firm

continuing to lay off more than 60 workers. For 19 years, Stuart Massey

was an offshore drilling with another company. Now he is out of

work. It is difficult. There really is nothing about. When we were in

work, regular phone calls are used to get from agencies offering trips

here and there. That has dried up. There are jobs fairs. The

here and there. That has dried up. that was missing a job fairs

here and there. That has dried up. related companies. Holding on to

here and there. That has dried up. to be hard but growth in the rest of

the jobs market is more than making the jobs market is more than making

In an official report, Nyomi Eisenstadt acknowledges

there's been debate over just who's been helped by the freeze.

Last week, one local authority proposed a massive rise

to try to avoid cuts and more councils may follow.

Our local government correspondent, Jamie McIvor, reports.

There has been a big freeze in town halls for nearly nine years. Who is

helped most by the frozen council tax question of the poorest gaining

from bills that are not going up or losing out in Council facing tight

budgets cut services? Today the poverty czar acknowledged this

debate and called for the freeze to end next year. We have a system of

local taxation that is broken. We have had huge increases in property

values but not changes in the way they are taxed. In the meanwhile,

probably from 17, 18 onwards it would be a good idea to give local

authorities more power over their own tax and spend. The SMT -- the

SNP promised to freeze council tax until next year. The SNP will bring

forward our proposals for the longer term local government finance before

the election and we will do that. I would challenge other parties to do

the same. We are about to have an election where people can look at

the different options. We know the Scottish garment is about to half

from local government budgets. -- the Scottish Government. That

from local government budgets. -- for schools and social care and

services that can contribute to services directly. Why to any

council that put up council tax would lose out. -- Any counsel. Last

week Murray proposed a rise. Options for change are likely to be a big

part of the election debate in the weeks ahead.

The members of one of the Syrian refugee families who arrived

in Scotland before Christmas have spoken exclusively to the BBC.

Talking about their experiences for the first time, they say

if they hadn't fled their country they would be dead by now.

Fiona Walker went to Clydebank with some of the volunteers helping

The freedom to have fun without covering the views to muffle the

sound of war. These scooters were given by families in the block of

flats in Clydebank where they moved to just over a month ago. I think

that would be nice, wouldn't it? From the kindness of neighbours to

the kindness of strangers. Women in Glasgow from seven different

countries have got together to knit warm clothes for the Syrian rivals.

It is good to do it because you know you are helping someone. You are

keeping them warm, especially the children. This woman -- this man is

helping the family to settle in and he has brought perhaps. The oldest

daughter is 12. I would like to say to the Scottish people, thank you. I

hope we will be a good example. I am happy because they settled us with

Scottish neighbours to learn the language was we just miss our

families and relatives because we are far away from them but the nice

way in which the Scottish people have treated as filth that space in

our lives. Her father is concerned she would be recognised. He decides

not to show his face because it would put his family at risk who are

still in Syria. He describes the difference between Syria and here.

We have come from hell to Paradise. Clydebank is his power ties in the

context of war. Losing my friends in the war and destroying my house when

I was fleeing from place to place looking for shelter. Even when I was

seeking safety for my children, after a while they started bombing

there too. What do you think would have happened to you how to use stad

in homes? We would be dead. -- had you stayed in Homs. She has learned

her first 100 words of English that she is working out which ones are

the most important. It seems she is starting to integrate already.

A Parliamentary inquiry into the closure of the Forth Road

The crossing was shut for almost three weeks in the run-up

to Christmas, after a crack was discovered in a truss

It remains closed to HGVs, but the bridge operator,

Amey, says it's aiming to fully reopen the bridge by the middle

Transport Scotland told the infrastructure committee

they couldn't have predicted what happened.

We believed the defect was unforeseen. As always in managing

and maintaining our efforts we will take this opportunity to learn

lessons from this incident in an effort to continuously improve. This

incident has highlighted exactly how important the crossing is to the

Scottish economy and its people. Angry MSPs have complained that

hundreds of nurses could have been recruited with the money squandered

on a new IT system for NHS 24 And, after a Holyrood hearing,

MSPs announced they intend to find out whether there are similar IT

problems elsewhere in Government. They'll call top civil servants

to give evidence. More from our political

editor, Brian Taylor. As the name suggests, NHS 24 is on

call round-the-clock to help patients. In 2011 it was decided

that the new IT system would improve that service. Five years on, it is

still not in place and the project is ?41.6 million over budget. I

apologise unreservedly. The new chief executive says the new

business case had been weak, there were gaps and system delays had

added to the price. The convener Boyce anger at the costs. In my

estimation it would be around 1900 nurses that could be employed as a

result of this. Do you not find that unacceptable? I do. Do you think you

should be ashamed of the fact you have found yourself in this

position? The organisation is not happy it is in this position. It

turned to the predecessor, John Turner. He said he felt let down by

a senior colleague. He signed off the contract but later emerged that

key service specifications were left out. The 1000 page printed version

did not match the online contract which had been updated over months.

There were gaps and they were not spotted. Why do you think happened?

That question has tormented me since this came to light. The MSPs were

told the new IT system had failed tests but should be up and running

for patients this year. That might cost another ?7 million. Eventually

they were assured it would save the health service money.

Scotland's new food body has recommended

that the Scottish Government make plans to introduce a tax on sugar.

Food Standards Scotland says, that because Scotland is one

of the fattest nations in the world, it's time to get radical.

Our health correspondent, Eleanor Bradford, reports.

Charlene Henderson has always struggled with her weight. Her job

as a chef leaves little time for exercise. She reached a peak of 21

stone, so she paid for weight loss surgery. I have never regretted any

of it. The weight is so hard to take off. Life is so much easier. I enjoy

of it. The weight is so hard to take life at a different angle. I look at

things at a different angle. Despite 15 years of healthy eating messages

can to win three Scottish adults are overweight. Many of us think we're

eating healthily we are not. It is recommended an adult has no more

than 30 grams of sugar a day. What does that look like? If you start

your day with a bowl of cereal and have half a can of baked beans at

lunch and three digested in the afternoon, that would be your 30

grams used up. Food standards Scotland says it is time to get

medical and start planning for the introduction of a tax on sugar. Our

view is that while we want to continue to work with all segments

and all sectors, we should not be in any doubt we cannot rule out

regulation or taxation. How it can be introduced and whether Scotland

has that power is unclear. There is a danger it will get caught up in

legal challenges like minimum pricing for alcohol. Would it have

popular support? It has proven to work in other countries so I think

it would do here as well. It will help to tackle the obesity epidemic

we have got in the UK. Anything to help that will be a good thing and

take the strain of the NHS. People can read the backs of labels. I am

worried about a Freddo being 50p instead of 5p. Charlene does not

think making sweetened food more expensive is a recipe for success.

It is up to the individual. They have to learn the levels. You cannot

make them take sugar. It is up to them to learn to control it.

The First Minister has met with the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

Our political correspondent Glenn Campbell is in

The Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary in talks with

Polish counterpart inside Edinburgh Castle. These are defence and

security talks and we are told discussions that are not related to

the UK's renegotiation of its membership of the European Union. It

was on that topic that Philip Hammond and Nicola Sturgeon met for

talks at Bute house. The First Minister has raised concerns about a

possible in /out referendum in June. She does not think that would give

enough time for the case for the UK to remain inside the EU to be made.

Here is what the Foreign to remain inside the EU to be made.

had to say on that when he left. I took the

update the First Minister on where we are with the EU renegotiations.

We discussed a few other subjects as well. She was worried about the June

vote. Were you able to reassure her? If we get a deal at the debris

European Council, the June vote would be a possibility. If you take

that together with the Scottish Secretary's marks there is a strong

argument for a June vote, it does seem a real prospect. We will have

to see how the UK's renegotiation goes and we will find out if there

is a deal or not when the Prime Minister goes to meet other EU

leaders next month. The Hollywood actor Richard Gere

is to attend this year's He plays a homeless man

in New York in his latest film, Time Out of Mind, which will

have its UK premiere Actress Natalie Dormer,

film director Peter Greenaway and stuntman Vic Armstrong will also

appear at the Glasgow event, Yes. Seldom has there been so much

excitement surrounding a Scottish cup tie involving two teams that not

that many people have heard of. They are at East Kilbride and Lothian

this'll. All the excitement has been because the winners of this match

will play Celtic at home in the next round. I'm delighted to say I have

been joined by representatives of both clubs. We have the East

Kilbride manager and a last-minute stand-in, Willie Randall, the club

secretary. The manager is stuck on a bus somewhere. We hope you get here

in time for kick-off. Not that long to go, under an hour. How are you

feeling? Excited. Really looking forward to the game. It is going to

be a magnificent football match tonight. We are really excited it

has come round. Not just any football match, a tie against Celtic

and lots of money. Does that put added pressure? I think it does but

they will play for the fund. It will be a good football game. A wee bit

of extra drama in the goalkeeping department. The second time in two

seasons that has happened. The second choice will be playing in

goal. I thought you were going to play an attacking midfielder... I

think you will find the young player will be playing in goal. Is this

think you will find the young player just a ruse? No, no. Will it be a

tense affair? I think it will be very open. Two quality passing

sides. We have played each other before in the Scottish cup. You'll

be a tough tussle. Will the team make it? I hope so. Thank you very

much in the best of luck to both of you.

The SPFL will formally investigate incidents of unacceptable conduct in

recent matches between Rangers and Hibernian and hearts and Dundee

United. The Glasgow Warriors flanker

Ryan Wilson has been cleared of any wrongdoing following

a Disciplinary Hearing That applause is for

the team arriving! Wilson was accused of allegedly

grabbing the testicles of the Northampton Saints

scrum half Lee Dickson during their European Rugby

Champions Cup on Sunday. The fastest server in tennis awaits

Andy Murray in the second round of the Australian Open

early tomorrow morning. Murray's preparing to face

the hard-hitting Sam Groth, a home favourite who hopes something

else might help him get I hope his wife goes into Labour in

the next 24 hours and he goes back home. Not sure that is going to

happen but I have got nothing to lose. He is a very competitive guy,

he bites extremely hard, he has a great attitude. He will make it

tough for me because he has a different game style to a lot of the

players now. But I will be ready for that.

You may remember speed skater Elise Christie

from the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

She was disqualified from all three of her events and broke

Well, she's back in Sochi this week, defending two titles in the European

As Jane Lewis reports, her preparations haven't been ideal.

In good form and feeling optimistic. Yet five months ago, back to was not

in a good place, after suffering an ankle injury in training. The day I

did it, I sat and I thought, this is my season over, because the pain I

was in, I thought I would not be coming back from this this year. It

was just a really bad sprain. And they said, you are talking about

number macro weeks. -- eight weeks. It was 2.5 weeks! And her

determination has paid off. As she It was 2.5 weeks! And her

defends her two European titles from last year. I have never gone in as a

favourite before. I cannot fail in my eyes because it is short track.

That is speaking from experience. They have gone down, they have all

gone down! During the Winter Olympics in 2014, she was

disqualified in all three events. I think the key for Elise is what she

has sat down and learn from that experience. She is to be feared on

the ice. On a good day, fit and healthy, she will go out and still

above. Delivering is the plan. But then again, plans do not always pan

out. And good news. The Lothian Thistle

team have arrived and acclimatised themselves here in East Kilbride so

the game goes ahead, panic over. Back to you.

Thank goodness for that! It's the ultimate

rags-to-riches story. When designer Paul Smith

opened his first shop in London in 1970, he could little

imagine that one day, he'd be able to boast

300 shops worldwide, a cult following in Japan,

and a knighthood for his services His story is told in

an exhibition which opens at

the Lighthouse in Glasgow tomorrow. Our arts correspondent,

Pauline McLean, went to meet him. This is the actual size of the first

shop. For Paul Smith, it began with one small shop. I was very lucky to

just be in love and be grounded and have somebody a respected massively.

And we were just sort of going along. And every year without

realising it, we just did a little bit better.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is London. Swinging London, it has been

called, this, ladies and gentlemen, is London. Swinging London, it has

been called, this, ladies and gentlemen, is London. Swinging

London, it has been called, -- although some might find a different

addictive. He was at the heart of London in the Swinging '60s and

fashionable 70s where he addressed the best names in the business.

David Bowie was a fan and a friend. I dressed him personally since 1979

and he just came to the shop. And also, we never give clothes.

Designer brands give clothes to attract celebrities. We have never

done that. Not because I am mean but I want people to like the clothes

because they like them. For anybody who comes to this exhibition and

looks who comes to this exhibition and

about your life and who comes to this exhibition and

done, what would you hope they take away from it? Response, I want goose

bumps, serious goose bumps. When you leave, you go, he started with a

small shop, ?600, opened Fridays and Saturdays. And you can progress from

humble things. And as you read, just as you read the exhibition, look up

high on the left and you will see a big yellow post-it note that says,

every day is a new beginning. Just remember if it did not work out

Just remember if it did not work out today, tomorrow is a new day.

Time to get the forecast from Christopher.

We did expect the clout to break, but it was a miserable day. Some

holes around the periphery and a weather watcher was able to snap

some blue skies. Beautiful picture. Towards this evening, it is largely

dry with some light rain and showers. It is dry. And the cloud is

likely to break overnight. And some rain arriving with the risk of ice

across Western areas and the potential for freezing rain.

Temperatures for most around freezing overnight, but in the cloud

breaks, well below that, especially in the countryside. Rain arriving in

the West tomorrow morning, a risk of ice and freezing rain. A dry start

further East, largely bright with sunshine, but with cloud and rain.

If you start tomorrow dry and bright, it turns cloudy and wet. If

you start with rain, you have it for the day. Temperatures 3-5 Celsius in

the middle of the day. Milder in the West. A lot of cloud and rain, snow

through the mountains. The far North is largely dry. Until around dusk.

That rain sweeps in and a strengthening southerly wind as

well. But the main event is overnight on Thursday into Friday,

high pressure has gone and low-pressure rules so it will be wet

and windy. And we do have an early warning for the rain from the Met

office because a lot of surface water spray on the roads on Friday

morning, the potential for localised flooding. It is wet and windy and

much milder. Rain clears and the afternoon is better and brighter,

temperatures 10-11dC, showers in the North West. Into the weekend,

Saturday is not bad, reasonably dry with showers and milder

temperatures. That is forecast. Now, a reminder of

tonight's main news. The number of Scots in work has

reached an all-time high. The latest official figures show

that more than 2.6 million And that's all from

Reporting Scotland for now. No headlines at 8pm this evening,

because of football, but we'll be back with the late

bulletin, just after Until then, from everyone

on the team - right around the country - have

a very good evening.