27/01/2017 Reporting Scotland

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: Fears the discarding of fish at sea

is not being properly policed, as skippers remove monitoring

A double whammy for north-east hotels as oil business dries up

Tributes from the great and the good for the late MP Tam Dalyell,

as his constituents remember him fondly.

He was a good man who did a lot for West Lothian. Quite a character, a

one-off. Craig Gordon is a target for Chelsea

and why the Hoops are desperate

to keep him. And written by their music teacher

and mixed by his pupils, a potential Eurovision

song contest entry... It's a practice that

caused widespread concern, when images emerged of large numbers

of dead fish being dumped But BBC Scotland has learnt

that cameras installed on boats to monitor the ban

are being removed by skippers. The number of them has halved

in three years and WWF Scotland says there's now no effective

monitoring of discards. Our environment correspondent

Kevin Keane reports. It is a controversial practice which

all sides want to end but the contention is over how to do it.

Discards are the dead fish thrown back into the sea because the boat

does not have the quote to land it. It is now being banned, if you

species at a time. Three years ago the boats were offered a chance to

install cameras to help monitor the ban. As an incentive, skippers were

allowed to bring back more fish. But for cod, the scheme has ended and

the cameras are being handed back, which is causing alarm. We have

significant concerns about the low which is causing alarm. We have

level of monitoring of what is happening at sea. In fact, the

number of vessels monitored is only around 1%, so we are concerned that

we are not able to know what is happening and whether the ban is

being adhered to. With many species found in mixed fisheries, where they

swim together, a net load might fill their quota for a fish they do not

want, meaning they have two head home. For fishermen, the problem is

not the monitoring that the legislation. The cameras never

existed to do it. They were never meant as a compliance tool. We had

hoped they would contribute to the science. We are nowhere near the

sort of technology to allow that to happen but in the fullness of time

it might do. To use them as an extremely expensive compliance tool

is complete overkill. The fisheries minister has been unavailable to

interview today but in a statement the Scottish Government said it

needs to deploy a range of methods to monitor and control this. Cameras

are only one method. Quota incentives will also be available

for species other than cod in the 2017 scheme. Details will be set out

in due course. Fisher men say the ban is inflexible and are pinning

their hopes on a post exit fishing policy to produce a solution that

works for all. The number of schoolchildren classed

as having additional support needs has gone up dramatically

in recent years. Last year nearly a quarter of pupils

had an additional need of some sort. But the number of dedicated teachers

has fallen by a fifth in five years. While children with additional needs

usually stay in mainstream schools, sometimes this isn't

the right option. Our education correspondent

Jamie McIvor has been meeting families who battled

to have their children sent Auckland house in Fife is a

specialist facility for boys let down by mainstream education. It

helps children with autism, ADHD, to reds syndrome and social, emotional

or behavioural challenges. Some of its success stories are remarkable.

Kieron spent six years at the school. When I was 12, I could not

read or write. I went from currently now in college doing my intro to

sport and hopefully ready for university. You get the personal

attention that you need. In mainstream schools, there are 20

people in a class and you don't get much help. He was diagnosed with

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant

disorder. I think the authorities would have been happy for him to

struggle through secondary school, but we had to get the headteacher

and another support network to fight for us. Karen's ten-year-old son is

at Falkland house. He has asked Berger 's syndrome and was

desperately unhappy at his local primary. He was admitted into the

childhood family psychiatry unit at Caledonia house. It was an emergency

admission because things got that extreme. He did not want to be in

this world any more. She also faced battle with the council. They

disbanded disability team within social work and generic social

workers took over, who did not have an understanding. Provision varies

across Scotland, while the number of specialist teachers has been

falling. We are lacking educational psychologists. We are training them,

but the numbers are decreasing. We would like to see a review of how we

are supporting the training of educational psychologists, their

role. There is widespread support for the principle of keeping

children in mainstream schools. The government is looking at the

guidance. The government is currently reviewing what is

available on the principle of mainstream to make sure it is

available on the principle of appropriate for our times and meets

the needs of the current educational environment. Removing a child from a

mainstream school is always a difficult decision. The fear is that

they lack of money or staff may sometimes make things harder for

youngsters who face very real challenges.

It's claimed that increases to business rates could be

set to cripple parts of Scotland's hospitality industry.

New rates come into effect in April, after a national revaluation.

It's hit businesses in the north-east particularly hard.

Campaigners say properties were valued while oil was still booming.

Lunchtime at the Belvedere Hotel in Stonehaven. The chef is not as busy

as he once was. Owners say footfall has fallen by 70% since the oil

price downturn. All but two of the rooms are empty. But while occupancy

plummets and profits plunge, business rates are set to soar for

this hotel by 106%. I will not be able to afford to keep the rooms

open at that rate with this occupancy. It will kill the tourism

industry. Unfortunately, because the oil has gone and we were a dormitory

town for oil, we only have tourism. The hotels are the major employer.

If they close, or downsize, it's a disaster. The hospitality industry

gathered in Stonehaven to discuss the issue. They say the rates rise

will lead to redundancies and closures. The problem is not unique

to the north-east or the hospitality industry. The Scottish Chambers of

commerce say they are hearing concerns from businesses across the

country. The rates revaluation was carried out in April 2000 and 15.

Many businesses will stop paying rates altogether. Others will see

there is double or triple. It has led to growing calls for the

Scottish Government to consider in producing increases on a phased

basis. We know the problem is coming and people will be made redundant,

businesses may go to the wall. We have time to do something about

these revaluations and mitigate the impact on business. It is not

unusual for us to try innovative solutions, and we must do something.

It is an issue in the north-east. That is why I am the king at try to

provide a local solution for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire areas.

That is why the council should engage with me to take that forward.

In addition to relief divided nationally. The Scottish Government

say it is for local councils to apply rates reductions and

businesses can appeal their valuation if they feel it is

businesses can appeal their incorrect, but that could take two

years, and business owners here are already struggling to survive. They

say basically can't afford it. The Finance Secretary has

more to worry about than He's still seeking support

at Holyrood for his budget. With the SNP a minority government,

ministers have to get the backing of another party to back the

budget, or abstain. The first crunch

vote is on Thursday. Our political correspondent

Andrew Kerr joins me now. Well, it is not looking good at the

moment. The budget bill was introduced to Holyrood today and

there is a stage one debate on Thursday, followed by the crunch

vote. If he does not get the support then, he has to go away and try

again. That support is not coming from the Conservatives and Labour.

The Tories say he is taxing too much, Labour say he is cutting too

much. The Greens are a possible ally, who won the Scottish

Government to make more use of tax-raising powers. That is not

going to happen, I think. The Lib Dems have set out spending demands

of ?400 million, but still no deal yet. They were seen as the most

likely suitors but they say they do not want to just roll over. Private

talks are continuing next week and Mr Mackay probably believes they are

quite constructive, but at the moment the Scottish Government know

there is an impasse, but I understand he is still hopeful of a

deal next week before the crunch vote.

All day, tributes have been paid to Tam Dalyell,

the former Labour MP who's died at the age of 84.

Political leaders remembered him as a hugely influential figure

In the constituency he served, West Lothian and then Linlithgow,

they recall a champion of local causes.

This from our political editor Brian Taylor.

Tam Dalyell left the Commons in 2005, a rebel with umpteen causes.

One such was fervent opposition to Scottish devolution. We will go down

a motorway to a separate state, a journey on which many of us don't

want to embark. Alongside him in that late 1970s campaign, Brian

Wilson, later a Labour minister. He recalls his friend's determination.

He was always prepared to take on a cause and pursue it to the end. If

that made him unpopular, if it was to his personal disadvantage, in

terms of party leadership or so on, so be it. If he thought he was

right, he pursued it. From home rule to global concern. Here he is

warning against the Gulf War in 1990. Friends, we are embarked on a

course that is madness. And more. He pursued Margaret Thatcher over the

sinking of the Belgrano during the Falklands War. The Lockerbie bomb,

he questioned the involvement of the Libyans. The Iraq invasion in 2003,

he condemned his own Labour Prime Minister. A substantial

parliamentarian, somebody who pursued politics without fear or

favour, a man of iron principles. When he got his teeth into

something, he never let go. Even people who disagreed with him on a

range of things, perhaps on people who disagreed with him on a

everything, could see the value of having somebody like him, who put

integrity and the pursuit of principle before everything else in

politics. In the lift -- in Linlithgow, folk remember the local

helping hand. He was a great constituent MP. He had the heart of

the people. Very sad. He was a good man who did a lot for West Lothian.

He was quite a character, quite a character. Character indeed. Here,

sharing a laugh with Lord Steel two years ago. He was up for a good

cause. He was determined. He made Margaret Thatcher's life very

difficult over the sinking of the Belgrano. I think he was wrong on

Scottish revolution, but his West Lothian Question will remain long

after people have forgotten him. Early days, he looks on as his

ancestral home is gifted to The National Trust. Later years, still

thinking, contemplating, arguing. A life well lived.

You're watching BBC Reporting Scotland.

Fears that discarding fish at sea is not being properly policed,

as skippers remove monitoring equipment from their boats.

How the North Coast 500 driving route is bringing tourism

Celtic face a battle with the English league

leaders Chelsea for one of their prize assets.

Craig Gordon has already been the subject of one

And his manager Brendan Rodgers maintains he wants the goalkeeper

to sign a new deal at Celtic rather than head for the riches of England.

He has caught the eye of the top team in England. Chelsea are also

one of the richest and could offer Craig Gordon huge financial rewards.

At Celtic, though, he is key to present and future plans. We do not

need to sell him. He is someone I want to keep for a longer period so

I would hope that the only thing that comes out of this is that we

can renegotiate with him and get him here for a longer period than the 18

months he has left, and he can get on with working and playing at a

club he wants to be at. Brendan Rodgers does not want to sell, but

he did say every player has a valuation. If Chelsea meet the

valuation, what does the player have to weigh up? Will he have first-team

football at Chelsea? He has it at Celtic and has performed extremely

well. He has changed his game under Brendan and he is enjoying himself.

For him to go down and the second choice... In saying that, he could

work his way into the team at Chelsea and resurrect his career in

England. Having had a bid rejected, Chelsea and resurrect his career in

will Chelsea comeback? I don't know. I don't know about a lot of names.

If the Chelsea manager does not recognise the name, that is good

news for Celtic. He has been fantastic this season. He has come

back pretty much from the dead to be our Player of the Year. He had a

hard spell of injury at Sunderland, but he has enjoyed his football here

and hopefully he stays for a long time. The next four days will be

crucial in determining that. Chelsea have until Tuesday to make Celtic

and Gordon an offer they can't refuse.

A look at other stories from across the country now.

Two fighter jets had a near miss, coming within 300ft of each other,

An investigation into the incident at RAF Lossiemouth found a collision

avoidance system was ineffective because it had not "warmed up".

The incident in August last year involved a Typhoon and a Tornado

Aberdeenshire Council is to receive an extra ?2 million to help meet

the cost of repairs carried out as a result of devastating

The funding comes from the Bellwin Scheme, which gives

special financial assistance to councils facing extra

Last year's Open Championship in Troon was worth more

than ?100 million to Scotland, according to a new study.

The research was commissioned by golf's governing body,

the R, Visit Scotland and South Ayrshire council.

Spending in Ayrshire alone accounted for ?23 million pounds.

Drivers in Edinburgh have been left confused by road markings

for the latest phase of Edinburgh's new 20mph speed limit.

Roads have had both 20mph and 30mph markings painted

Edinburgh council says the markings are ahead of junctions to show that

traffic going one way is entering a 20mph zone and traffic going

Politicians, faith leaders and conflict survivors have gathered

Candles were lit at Bishopbriggs Academy last night

Scotland's Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, spoke

about the dangers of denying fundamental human freedoms.

The daughter of one Holocaust survivor spoke of her

Witch. So the trains that they used were freight trains, not the

traditional trains everybody recognises, they were open top and

bus of her knowledge of that area, she jumped into a snow drift and

wasn't seen by the guards and managed to escape. It was launch

It was launched last summer and has been rated one of the top driving

The circular North Coast 500 follows much of the spectacular coastline

Its popularity has led to a boost in both visitor

numbers and employment, but as Jackie O'Brien

has been finding out -- it's also brought fresh challenges.

The north coast 500 which takes in some of Scotland's most breathtaking

scenery has brought bumper business to far-flung communities along the

route taking tourist operators by surprise. We haven't got enough

beds. That's the problem all over. They have to go further afield. We

are full up. The north coast village here has seen the installation of

the area's first-ever 24-hour fuel here has seen the installation of

stop, to keep up with demands. . It will increase foot fall in the shop.

Business in the petrol station, bed and breakfast, hotels, everywhere.

It's definitely been a bonus for the area. While driving along the north

coast, soak up the views from our soft top has become a roaring

success, it's feared that single track roads like this one simply

can't sustain it. Local people want improved infrastructure as well as a

crackdown on dangerous driving. Dodging the Aston Martins ander if

oaries has become a nightmare for Crofters trying to move sheep along

the route some now describe as a racetrack. They don't appreciate the

animals on the road and that. It's just, you know, they are not used to

driving on single track roads and they have these high-powered cars,

you know and some of them are pretty reckless. These speeds, if you meet

another vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, it could very well end up

in a very serious be accident if something is not done to curb this

kind of behaviour. Those driving the concept say road safety is a

priority and they've pledged to work with the concerned communities to

improve the experience for locals and visitors.

We're working with the police, we're and visitors.

work with the advanced school of motoring to put all their tips out

there. So we're doing as much as we possibly can. There'll always be

more. They can probably do more to help cyclists as well. We'll always

more. They can probably do more to be aware of the need to work with

local communities. It seems there's no stopping the success of this

initiative and, as the village of Durness braces itself for another

invasion this year, residents can't help but to reflect on the

transformation that's already taken place I never thought I would ever

be late for work due it traffic in Durness, but it certainly happened

this year. Tonight, the UK choice

for the Eurovision Song Meanwhile, a song the UK rejected,

written by a Scottish music teacher, is in the running to be

entered - by ROMANIA. Jason Blyth's composition was heard

on social media by a Romanian singer and she's now hoping to take it

to the finals. Andrew Anderson has been to meet

Mr Blyth and the pupils who helped Can you isolate the vocals?

the sound just right. This is the song written by a music teacher and

mixed by his pupils that could make it to the finals of the Eurovision

Song Contest. Jason Blyth 's song, Tear Up The Dark was rejected by the

UK. 'S entry but has been picked up by the Romanians. He says he

couldn't have done it without the help of his students. They were the

ones telling me - oh, you need maybe it try it this way, maybe the drums

don't need to be in at the start and don't need to be in at the start and

- try adding more distortion on the guitar. I took all that on board to

result in the high-quality mix we have now. And here's the Romanian

singer with her version of the song. singer with her version of the song.

# Tear up the dark...# She heard it when pupils from

Kinross High School put it on social media. When we put it on YouTube we

told people to comment on T I'm sure when he got rejected from the UK,

they put it on their website and the Romanians saw it there. The song

goes before judges on Romanian television on Sunday night. If it

gets through, it is one step closer to becoming Romania's entry for this

year's Eurovision Song Contest. Love it or loathe it, Eurovision is one

of television's big nights. Around 200 million viewers are expected to

tune in for this year's final in May from Kiev. From Kinross, they hope

their song makes T We have been making it making sure the

instruments sound right, at the real level. I think it'll do W it is an

excellent song, written well and Mr Blyth had the Eurovision in mind

throughout the writing process. Now Mr Blyth and his pupils can only

hope their song strikes the right note.

Well fingers crossed for kin cross. -- Kinross.

Let's see what we have in store for the

A mixed weekend. It has been mixed today. Beautiful sunshine around

this morning although turning cloudier for many of us during the

afternoon. This evening in the east, some clear spells, a touch of frost

developing under clear skies with lows of around minus-2. As we go

through the night, however, becoming cloudy across the board with

outbreaks of rain continuing to move in from the west and the south.

Especially over the high ground and the hills, there may well be some

snow at times and as that rain reaches eastern areas, reaches cold

surfaces in the east, there will be a risk of ice on any untreated roads

and surfaces. By the end of the night, temperatures recovering

somewhat, around 1-4 Celsius for most. That bit milder in the far

west and across the Isles with strong winds in Shetland. Into

tomorrow, then, we dawn on a fairly cloudy note with further outbreaks

of rain and that rain really dragging its heels. We did

anticipate that it would clear quickly from the east, although

quite a slow process now and indeed leaving a legacy of cloud behind it

for many eastern areas. Perhaps some very light rain continuing through

the borders, the likes of the Edinburgh area tomorrow afternoon.

Sunny spells for Galloway and Western Isles, althoughing there be

some showers here at tiechls. Across much of the north-east, it is

looking dry, albeit fairly cloudy. Perhaps some rain holding on across

Shetland and beer Deanshire. Highs of around 6 or 7. So hill walking

and climbing tomorrow. For the more Western ranges, especially the

north-west there will be some snow showers. Temperatures on the summits

around freezing to minus-2 and winds from the west or from the south-west

around 15-25 miles per hour. For the more eastern ranges, occasional snow

showers, rain showers to the border hills, minus-2 Celsius, plus-2 for

the border hills and again, west-to-south-westerly winds, 15-20

miles per hour. Into tomorrow evening that rain

finally clearing away to the east, leaving behind it a dry, cold and

clear night for most of us, with a widespread frost developing. By

Sunday, we'll have high pressure overhead, keeping the weather

largely settled and dry, although some uncertainty regarding this area

of rain may feed into the south during the day. For the most part,

though, dry with plenty of sunshine during the day. For the most part,

but still fairly chilly. Now, a reminder of

tonight's main news: Theresa May has been

at the White House for talks He's taken the opportunity to pay

tribute to the special relationship between

the United States and Britain. Mrs May said there would be further

talks and there was much on which they agreed.

I'll be back with the late bulletin just after the Ten O'Clock News.

Until then, from everyone on the team - right

across the country - have a very good evening.