17/08/2016 Reporting Scotland

Helping to bring the tally to 50 medals with

That's all from the BBC News at Six - so it's goodbye from me -

Drug-related deaths rise to a record high.

We found needles, syringes and other drug paraphernalia lying in

considerable quantities. The people leaving their staff are the people

most at risk of dying. They are the hardest to reach by the drug

services. Also on the programme:

as unemployment falls, we'll assess the state

of the economy. The construction faults

which closed 17 Edinburgh schools could have implications

for buildings across the UK - according to the leader

of the city's council. A new coach for the

Scotland Rugby Team - Gregor Townsend will

replace Vern Cotter. And we'll be in Rio where Scotland's

Catriona Matthew in is in action The number of drugs deaths

in Scotland has hit a record high. Health professionals

are calling for new strategies to tackle the problem,

including the introduction of medically-supervised heroin

for addicts most at risk. Our home affairs correspondent,

Reevel Alderson reports. Front line troops in the fight to

get drug deaths down. Glasgow's assertive outreach workers. Each

day, teams tried to find users who are injecting on the streets,

putting themselves and the public at risk. We are trying to drill the use

of clean needles. We also provide the antidote to opiate overdose. We

actually provide kits. You don't have to go far from Glasgow city

centre to find evidence of street have to go far from Glasgow city

drug use existing. We found drugs paraphernalia lying in considerable

quantities here. The people who are leaving this stuff are the people

most at risk of dying and they are the hardest to reach by the drug

services. Official figures just released show the scale of

Scotland's problem. There were 706 drug-related deaths in Scotland last

year, up 6% on the year before. Older users, over 35, with long

drug-taking histories account for 70% of those who died. There are

public health implications. Needle sharing has led to a rise in

infections, such as HIV and botulism. Copenhagen is one of many

places around Europe offering users the chance to receive medical grade

heroin under supervision. These ideas are one's health officials

here would like to explore to save lives and money. There would be a

cost benefit, cost reduction to the health services. Prisons, the

criminal justice systems, housing, except read. We had three new

members last month, which was quite sad. Kevin Butler died from an

overdose. She offers support to families bereaved by addiction and

is in favour of supervised drug injection. It is getting people out

of the shadows. I could hold my head high. I have a problem, yes. I'm

still being. I can hold my head high, walk in. I am not going to be

judged. Some good news in the figures. The number of people dying

from drug-taking is coming down and the number from taking drugs is the

lowest in a decade. A police whistleblower has told

the Scottish Police Federation that an overtime ban is leading

to proactive investigations The claims are made

in an email the federation Police Scotland say there is no

overtime ban in place and officers However the federation says pressure

is being put on officers They are being told, if they do into

overtime, they will not be getting paid. Whether that is an overtime

ban or strict examination of the overtime budget, it makes no

difference. If there is no overtime available, the public will suffer.

Police Scotland are a crucial part in tackling drug misuse across

country. They are a positive partner in our approach to tackling some of

the issues we have in our country. They are taking forward some of the

innovative work across the country as well and are very much dedicated

to trying to insure our communities remain safe.

Unemployment fell in Scotland, and across the UK,

And there's been another rise in the number of Scots who're in work.

Our business correspondent David Henderson can tell us more.

Jackie, this snapshot reveals the health of the jobs market

with all that means for households and prosperity right

But the official figures look back - they cover

In that period, the number of people out of work and looking

for a job in Scotland fell by 26,000.

That means the jobless total is heading in

the right direction - downwards, but that

still leaves 143,000 jobseekers in Scotland.

There's another positive sign, though.

Scotland's workforce increased, with 51,000

Well, it could be small businesses, like this one, a chain of private

hearing clinics with ambitious plans to expand.

Our market seems to be growing right now. It is largely driven by an

ageing population and also easy now. It is largely driven by an

access to hearing care and health care. It started with a small clinic

in Bath Street. The have grown that to three permanent sites across

central Scotland, including Stirling and Edinburgh. We have six

outpatient clinics. There is high demand for skilled staff. Clinical

audiologists, ear hygienist, administrators and back office

workers in the company. As we grow, the impact of the honours is that we

will have to keep stretching because we are buckling at the seams right

now. but the unemployment rate

here in Scotland is still higher more needs done to tackle

economic uncertainty, because these job figures just

cover the early summer, so they don't reflect

the impact of the Brexit vote. Now, if we're looking for signs

of confidence to wipe away those Referendum fears -

they're hard to find One expert said it's still far too

early to say if that vote We don't know what negotiations will

come out of Brexit. It will take an awfully long time to that get down

to the consumer's. The once did well were electricals and the home. And

is a fine people are still spending on big-ticket items. Those that did

less well worth footwear and fashion. That is a weather-related

thing. There is more unsettled weather in July than one might have

hoped. Now the UK Government says

the economy's in a strong place But with those negotiations

still some way off, we've yet to see how many businesses will react

as they weigh up whether to invest and hire new staff and its

still unclear how we'll react with decisions

on how we spend our cash. The Scottish Secretary,

David Mundell, says the UK Government wants EU citizens living

in this country to be able He was responding to a fresh call

from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, for

a guaranteed right to remain, issued on the day she met

EU nationals in Edinburgh. Here's our political

correspondent, Glenn Campbell. With passports from almost every EU

country, they came to discuss Brexit with the First Minister. Some fear

they could be forced to leave the UK. They must have thought of wait

resettle me somewhere, to give us a cushion to fall on. And not make

them the refugees of Europe. The First Minister is not in charge of

immigration. The UK Government is. It breaks my heart that, as First

Minister, the elected leader of this country, I cannot sit here and give

you the county and certainty you want. Perhaps if we can do one thing

from today, all of this together is to send a very clear message to the

UK Government. End this uncertainty and end it now. The UK Government

does not want to give guarantees until it has secured similar rights

for UK citizens living in other EU countries. Discussing Brexit with

farmers in East Lothian, the Scottish Secretary seemed confident

of a deal. The Prime Minister has made it clear she wants EU nationals

here in the UK to be able to stay and she will do everything she can

to make that happen. It is also important that we secure the

position of UK nationals who are in other parts of the EU. In the

background to this debate, other parts of the EU. In the

whether or not EU nationals should have a guaranteed right to remain on

UK soil after Brexit, the politics of Scottish independence. By

pointing out the power she does not have, Nicola Sturgeon is inviting

you to imagine what it would be like if she did have them. Another

independence referendum might suit this German couple, who support the

SNP. They decided to leave the UK because Brexit. Today the First

Minister has asked them to give it more thought. They they will.

The construction defects which closed 17 schools in Edinburgh

could have implications for buildings across the UK.

That's according to the leader of the city council who's

commissioned an inquiry into what happened.

He was speaking as children returned to school in the capital

This primary School in January. A massive storm had caused a wall of

the school to collapse and luckily there were no injuries. Checks

carried out on all of the city public school is soon uncovered the

same faults will do yesterday, reporting Scotland revealed 30

schools across the country had to have repairs because of defective

wall and header ties, like this one in East Renfrewshire. Thousands of

pupils were unable to return to school after Easter while repairs

were made. The first day of repairs at this high school in Edinburgh. As

pupils begin the academic year, the council is starting its own enquiry

as to why 17 of its schools had to close earlier this year. All the

schools were built or refurbished and the public - private partnership

championed by Labour. Edinburgh Council says that financial model

was not to blame. It is not a contract issue, it is a construction

issue. We'll be holding them to account for what has gone wrong. The

enquiry will report by the end of September 2016 and I will be

ramifications. For the whole of Scotland and potentially the rest of

the UK. These pupils explained how they had to be bussed to different

schools for three months. We had no clue that would happen. It was an

initial shock. That is it. I did not know about it. I switched on my

phone, I was studying, and then it came through that we were not in

school Monday. It was confusing. Older people is heading for exams

were prioritised. Many students did suffer disruption. It was a very

reduced school day. Only several hours. The actual teaching they were

not taught proper lessons. Parents will await the outcome of the public

enquiry, expected to include in December. -- conclude.

Still to come on tonight's programme: we'll be in Rio

where Scotland's Catriona Matthew in is in action in the

The director responsible for a crematorium at the centre

of the Aberdeen baby ashes scandal has failed to appear at a crucial

meeting discussing a secret report into its handling of the issue.

The city council says he is on annual leave.

A summary of the report was shown to councillors - then taken back.

This was a very significant day for Aberdeen City Council. Elected

members were given the opportunity to scrutinise the two reports that

have been published in response, or produced, in response to the baby

ashes scandal. One public and one private. What is most noticeable

today was not the number of people or the individuals who were here at

that meeting but the one who was not. Pete Leonard, the director of

the department responsible ultimately for what happened at the

crematorium. You would ordinarily be at a meeting like this, particularly

when his department was being discussed. Today he failed to show.

The official response from the council was that he was on annual

leave. Opposition councillors attacked him for that. They said he

should have been there today that he was defended by the council's

leader. Pete is on annual leave today. Everybody is entitled to

annual leave. On such a crucial day? The report today was from the chief

Executive. She was talking about that report. Councillors have had

the answers they required. The detail within a report that I have

confidence in the ongoing process, that it will be dealt with. A

summary of that confidential report was presented to councillors today

that they were given ten minutes to read and then it was taken away from

them again. At that point, the lawyer, the chief lawyer for the

council, told members they were potentially breaking employment

legislation if they were to discuss a comment publicly and then only

three questions were asked by the 43 members of the council about the

public report. That was the level of scrutiny that again today before

they moved on to another agenda right. Still lots of questions to be

asked about it and about the level of scrutiny being put on this. Thank

you. The First Minister's

mother has quit as Provost of North Ayrshire council,

along with the rest The SNP group lost its status

as the biggest party in the local authority

after the Nicola Sturgeon's father Now Joan Sturgeon and the SNP

administration have They will formally leave the posts

after a special meeting Former Scotland rugby player

Gregor Townsend is to become He's currently in charge

of Glasgow Warriors and will replace New Zealander Vern Cotter

next summer. As David Currie reports,

the Scottish Rugby Union say they are appointing a man of vision

to take the team to This is the man who led Glasgow

Warriors to their first and only pro 12 league title. Beating the best

clubs from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy in 2015. Now the SRU is

putting its faith in him to take on the best national teams in the

world. Its chief executive said: under Vern Cotter Scotland won just

two six Nations matches in two years. They came within seconds of

beating Australia to a place in the World Cup semifinals last year. Vern

Cotter's contract expires next summer at which point Gregor

Townsend steps in. He brings organisation, a bit of honesty,

plain talking, he's the boss. If you watch Glasgow Warriors you know

you're watching a team that is organised and I have criticised

Scotland in previous years for being disorganised, a shambles almost,

getting better under Vern Cotter and I think Gregor Townsend will make

them even better, I think he's the best young fish coach around in

European rugby. He might not be thinking ahead to

next year at the moment but Glasgow Warriors are. They say they are

already looking for his replacement. A look at other stories

from across the country. An elderly man has died in a single

vehicle track only a 75 in Dumfries and Galloway near Gatehouse of

Fleet. The 76-year-old driver was the only person in the car. A

63-year-old woman died and two men were injured near Dingwall in the

Highlands, the collision happened around 10:30pm last night. Inmates

at Polmont Janan offenders institution spend extended periods

in their sales due to a fear of violence. An inspector 's report

found that despite an improvement in the relationship between the

prisoners and staff interaction between inmates is limited. Around

20 further education colleges in Scotland including the new city of

Glasgow College could be hit by strike action that will coincide

with students starting their courses at the end of the month. Members of

unison which represent admin and support staff say there has been an

overwhelming vote in favour of stoppages in a dispute over pay.

Edinburgh City Council has approved plans to turn one of its most famous

landmarks into a music school. The a listed Royal high school on Calton

Hill has been the subject of a number of proposals over the last

few years including a luxury hotel development which was rejected by

the council at Christmas. The new plans endorsed today have been drawn

up by the architect Richard Murphy for Saint Mary 's music school.

Scottish athletes have made it through the heats in two events

on the track at the Olympic stadium this afternoon.

Andy Butchart qualified for Saturday's final of the 5,000

metres and Lynsey Sharp is through to the semi-finals

Meanwhile, Catriona Matthew has been in action in the women's

golf tournament and our Olympics reporter, Jane Lewis,

Doesn't the Olympic golf course looks stunning? Bathed in the

sunshine. This golf course was designed and built specifically for

these games and is a course that Scottish golfer Catriona Matthew has

already played her opening round on making her Olympic debut. She did

not do too badly at all, she finished level par after her opening

round, just five shots off the clubhouse leader, more play underway

behind me. She admits when she was called up to the first tee that she

felt one or two extra nerves. It was good, I was a bit nervous on the

first tee. But got off to a bit of a shaky start but then good birdies on

six and nine got me back into it. I had chances on the back nine,

hopefully could have been better if I had holed a couple but still in it

which is the main thing. Why the extra nerves, because it's the

Olympics? Yes, being in the Olympics is different for us, if you don't

feel a bit nervous there is something wrong with you. Earlier

today two Scottish track and field athletes in fantastic form at the

Olympic Park, Lynsey Sharp through to the semifinals of the 800 metres,

in convincing style as well, winning her heat in a time of just over two

minutes. She admits she's coming into these games feeling in great

shape. Absolutely, I feel in the shape of my life. I know it will

take that to get amongst the medals. But I'm confident I can get times

close to what the other girls are running so looking forward to the

next few rounds. Before that, Andy Butchart made it to the final of the

5000 metres finishing fifth in his heat today. He was in the second

5000 metres finishing fifth in his heat and will join none other than

Mo Farah, his British team-mate in Saturday's final. He says hopefully

he is starting now to make a name for himself. You have to make

yourself known to these guys. I am unknown to half of the people in the

field and hopefully today they will keep their eye on the final. It's my

first major championships, the aim was to make the final which I've

done so I will enjoy it and see what I can do. Great news for Andy

Butchart, they have been talking all games about the frustrating time for

the sailors, a lack of wind but it is getting up at the minute. It was

meant to be the final of the 470 class for the men at the women's

final was delayed so the men's will take place later this evening.

Scottish sailor Luke Patience out of medal contention so frustrating

times for him, disappointing as well as he got a silver medal in London

but nothing this time around in Rio. Frustrating and disappointing times

for him but Catriona Matthew will be back out there on that stunning golf

course tomorrow hoping to improve on her round of level par. Thank you,

it does look stunning. Football now and Celtic

are at home in the first leg of their Champions League

play off against the Israelis If they win the tie,

they qualify for the lucrative group Our reporter Alasdair Lamont

is at Celtic Park to assess Celtic's Without question the most important

game thus far of Brendan Rodgers short time in charge at Celtic.

Alongside me to assess how the game might go this evening is former

Celtic striker Scott McDonald. This is the point at which Celtic have

Celtic striker Scott McDonald. This fallen out of the Champions League

in the last two seasons, from what you have seen so far do you think

they are better equipped to night? I think certainly yes, we have seen a

different team under Brendan Rodgers, some quality players added

as well who will give that extra forward edge. And goals hopefully. I

fully expect them to take the lead tonight into the second leg. The

Achilles heel in the last couple of seasons has been the loss of goals

at Celtic Park which is ultimately killed them in the play-off stage.

Is keeping a clean sheet actually no more important than scoring? I think

it is key, in the last couple of seasons it's been well documented

that Celtic have lost crucial goals at home and I think they will have

to keep the back door shut tonight in order to qualify. But they will

to keep the back door shut tonight still have to go to the other end as

well and hopefully get on the scoresheet and take a lead into the

well and hopefully get on the second leg. Scott will be part of

the BBC radio Scotland coverage. The golf in Rio might have looked good

but I think we can give them a run for the money in the weather?

It was a lovely day across most of the country, great picture from a

weather watcher on the north-west coast. Lovely sunshine this evening,

not blue skies were all, this weather bringing cloud and outbreaks

of rain across the Western Isles and still more to come over the next wee

while but for most this evening it is dry. Staying that way as we head

overnight. There will be some cloud and clear spells and also missed and

low cloud around North Sea coast at times drafting inland. Temperature

will overnight in towns and cities hit double digits, in the

countryside perhaps single budget but not too cold. Tomorrow is

another dry day in the main, bit more cloud compared to today but

still sunshine on offer. Pretty pleasant conditions I have to say.

By mid-afternoon looking at temperatures of around 20, 20 two

Celsius, always cooler towards the coast, particularly the east Coast,

perhaps low cloud lingering at times. Sunshine towards the West

Coast, cloud and spots of rain for the Western Isles but many parts

will be dry, winds light to moderate. Rest of the afternoon into

the evening and indeed overnight drive, sunshine to end the day, but

those dry conditions won't last because there is change afoot. You

can see what I mean, low pressure arriving from the South West, quite

an autumn work to that which will turn things wet and windy through

Friday. We start dry but the cloud increases and the rain follows, it

moves north across the country through the course of the day.

Temperatures down a bit but it will be breezy as well but a cool

feeling. The low-pressure sting into the weekend so an unsettled scene,

some heavy thundery downpours at times and quite humid and breezy

feel to both days. Some sunshine but limited. Thank you, just time for a

reminder of the main news tonight. The number of drugs deaths in

Scotland has hit a record high, more than 700 people died last year, a

15% increase on the year before. Health professionals call for new

strategies to tackle the problem including the introduction of

medically supervised heroin addicts most at risk. Unemployment has

fallen in Scotland and across the UK as a whole, official figures show

the number of people out of work here between April and June was down

by 20 6000. And that's Reporting Scotland, we are back with the main

bulletin which is scheduled to be just after the 10pm News but it's up

to the Olympics what happens. From everyone here enjoy your evening,

goodbye.