05/04/2017 Reporting Scotland

Scotland's economy is hovering close to recession

and well behind that of the UK, according to the latest figures.

A criminal gang is jailed for stealing hundreds

of thousands of pounds by blowing up cash machines.

A warning in the European Parliament that

Brexit may break up Britain - unless Scotland gets a bespoke deal.

A grandmother loses her case against Trump International

for breaching her privacy - but claims a moral victory.

To me it was never about the monetary compensation, I was not

interested in money, I was only interested in clearing my name.

Could Scotland's Russel Knox be the man

to watch at the Masters which gets underway in Augusta tomorrow?

The Scottish economy is hovering close to recession, according

They show output fell during the last three

months of last year, and fell well behind UK growth.

That continues a trend of lower growth here.

Our business and economy editor, Douglas Fraser, assesses

It takes a microscope to find signs of growth at this business in the

north of Glasgow. And as the Finance Secretary is learning evidence of

economic growth is not easy to find either. Bioscience is one of the

hopes for the future of the Scottish economy but it will need something

inventive to shake about the near stagnation of the past year for the

figures covered the final three months of last year but the output

from the whole Scottish economy falling by 0.2%. Production,

construction down most, the services sector flat compared with 0.7%

growth for the UK economy as a whole. Take the whole of the year

and to does the 16th of the Scottish economy grow by only 0.4%, very weak

growth, the UK, growing more than four times faster. Why, the downturn

in oil and gas is a likely culprit, the Scottish Government says it also

has a lot to do with consumer confidence following the Brexit

referendum decision even know that affects the whole UK. It seems to

contrast between Scotland and the rest of the UK, maybe the people of

Scotland had more awareness of the impact that it is going to have on

the Scottish economy and of course there is a different attitude to

Europe. Still strong economic foundations to our Scottish economy

and still growth in 2016. Slow growth has to do with choices made

by business but the challenge is for government. If that shrinking of the

Scottish economy is repeated at the start of this year we will be in a

recession. That is troubling for a number of reasons. But it is a call

to action for the UK and Scottish Government. These figures ought to

signal a red alert to government at all levels and its response to that

ought to be a recognition that businesses need support to grow. But

we need a competitive economy in Scotland and competitive taxes.

Forging change in Scottish finances, income tax divergence from the rest

of the UK begins tomorrow for the new financial year and there are

some signs that the economic engine is sparking better but not by much.

Inflation is back to put a squeeze on household budgets. And there is

also uncertainty in the economy. How significant are these quarterly

figures? It may look like an abstract statistic about three

months, a fraction of 1% does not seem a big deal but it is a vital

economic measure because it compiles overtime to have a big effect. And

jobs, pay, prosperity, are placed in the world, Scottish growth used to

lag behind that of the UK. In the last decade it caught up and matched

the UK average but now it has been falling behind for about two years.

Roughly dating back to when the oil and gas downturn began. You could

hear some of the reasons why the problem might be there, no one knows

for sure. There is also a question of whether we do enough for start-up

companies and to grow companies. Our people efficiently managed. And the

politics of this as well, the Scottish Government has treated this

growth figure as its main target, for the ten years it has been in

power. But if it blames Brexit uncertainty for Scotland falling

behind, there's also the question of the other constitutional issue and

behind, there's also the question of whether that is putting a bit of a

chill on consumer confidence and business investment. That of course

is independence. Fans and former players

are threatening to boycott They want the club's board

to rethink their decision to sign David Goodwillie -

the former Scotland player who was ruled in a civil court

ruling to be a rapist. David Goodwillie scoring for his

country in 2011. In January the Court of session 's rules that David

Goodwillie and his former team-mate David Robertson had both raped

Denise Clare in 2011 and they were ordered to pay ?100,000 in damages.

In the civil case Denise Claire said she was incapable of consenting

because of alcohol consumption. The judge found her to be cogent,

persuasive and compelling. But the Crown Office said there was not

sufficient evidence for a criminal prosecution. Today Denise Clare told

the BBC she is dismayed that he had been allowed to return to

professional football. He was a promising footballer but when he

left Plymouth FC in January by mutual consent, many thought it was

the end of his career. But last week Clyde football club announced they

had signed him. In a statement they said, the coverage of the signing

brings the conversation back into the media, around an event that is

clearly damaged lives and this conversation raises awareness of the

need for both responsible decisions and respect. As a socially

responsible employer we will always seek to support people to rebuild

their lives and careers especially so after mistakes. Former Clyde

player Stephen Tennant says many think it is the wrong decision. He

suggested fans who own the club could try to force the board to

change its mind. On the whole I do not like it when footballers are set

out as role models, I think is probably over four David Goodwillie

in terms of football, I do not feel he has a place in the game any more.

Many fans today said they will boycott the club from on. George

Lennox has been two games since he was eight years old. Today he wrote

to the club to say he will not return until they get rid of David

Goodwillie. As far as I'm aware a large number of people are not

coming back. A few of my friends have written big essays on Facebook

justifying the reasons for not going back. It seems the club is more

interested in staying in the professional leagues then doing the

right thing. And Lucy Adams is outside

Clyde Football Club for us tonight. And there has been further reaction?

I have spoken to a lot of people here today outside the stadium. Many

of them have very strong feelings about this. Many feel he should be

allowed to play. Some in fact think this will help with his

rehabilitation. It is important to remember of course that David

Goodwillie is appealing that civil court decision which came out

earlier this year. The context is everything. The clubs themselves

said that this was a difficult decision for them. This club faces

for the first time at the end of the season dropping out of the top

leagues for the first time in its 140 year history. But I spoke

earlier to former director Bobby Casey has said that is no excuse for

signing David Goodwillie at this stage. And that they should put good

moral decisions and the reputation of the club above their

considerations about relegation. I also spoke earlier to Denise Claire

herself and she said in her view it is time for football to grow up. She

said if David Goodwillie had gone through the civil case, if he were a

policeman or a doctor, he would not be allowed to go back to his former

job as a professional. And as such she once the system to change.

Scotland's longest serving MEP has predicted the UK will no longer

exist if the there is no flexiblity during Brexit negotiations.

Labour's David Martin was speaking as the European Parliament

debated its negotiating objectives after the triggering of Article 50.

Scotland's longest serving MEP has predicted the UK will no longer

Our political correspondent Nick Eardley is at the parliament

The various arguments on Brexit are well rehearsed. We've heard more of

them today from European politicians, from UK politicians as

well. Not everyone is toeing the party line. The Labour MEP David

Martin thinks the way the Westminster government is dealing

with the process could eventually lead to the break-up of the UK.

The city where the EU is directly elected politicians come to vote.

Strasberg is where the European Parliament will accept or reject any

Brexit deals. Today those politicians set out their priorities

and heard how some Scots see the process. Including from this Labour

MEP who says he's no longer sure how he would vote on independence. The

UK does not show flexibility in these talks, then it will not only

be the UK leaving the EU but the UK will not exist any longer. Nigel

Farage has been one of the fiercest critics of this Parliament and that

continues. He says they're making unreasonable Brexit the man. You are

behaving the Mafia. You think we are a hostage, we are free to go. From

the European fight a desire for future partnership. But also a

warning, they plan to be united and firm in protecting their interests.

Colleagues, we are going to remain partners and friends but the United

Kingdom has got to accept the fact that there will be a tough

negotiating position on the European Union side. So what are the European

Parliament 's priorities? MEPs say the UK must fulfil all of its

obligations up until the date leaves. Echoing other institutions,

they say the UK cannot enjoy similar benefits after it leaves. The call

for fair treatment of EU citizens and the motion highlighted the fact

that Scotland and Northern Ireland voted differently to the UK result.

This SNP MP hopes that could prove yours. That keeps the door open for

greater things, whatever they may be. This is the start the process

and we keep all open. There will be a lot of attempts by member states

perhaps to divide the UK and we must be united. The European Parliament

has become the first institution to formally set out what it wants from

Brexit. Later this month European leaders will meet to hammer out

their objectives too. Then the real talking begins.

Seven men have been convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands

of pounds by blowing up cash machines across the UK

Liverpool Crown Court heard how the professional and organised

criminals used dedicated, ruthless and sophisticated methods

During the year-long crime spree, 30 banks and shops in England and

Scotland were targeted. Some cash machines were blown up using

oxyacetylene gas. In other raids stolen cars were used to drag away

cash machines. An estimated ?110,000 was stolen in two raids on the

outskirts of Aberdeen. Perth and Carnoustie. The attack on the Co-op

proved to be the last for the gang. Hours after the robbery and off duty

police officer spotted a suspicious car seven miles away in Arbroath. As

shocked diners looked on armed police swooped on the car park at

the McDonald's in the town and five men were arrested. Police used a

tyre deflation weapon to stop the gang getting away. In the weeks

leading up to the arrests, detectives in Scotland and England

were already closing in on the gang. It was after an overnight raid on

the cash machines at this store at King 's Wells on the outskirts of

Aberdeen when police made a major breakthrough in the case. CCTV from

a nearby industrial estate picked up a rendezvous between a lorry and a

high-performance car. We became aware that the group had access to a

stolen HGV and they were actually using high-powered motor cars to

commit these crimes. But transporting the Audi within the HGV

to not travel -- to not draw attention to themselves. This setup

would not be lost to fans of the classic film the Italian job. They

had fuel, toilet rolls, and they had cut a small area within the outer

skin of the HGV to allow them access in and out without drawing attention

to themselves by opening the rear of the lorry. The charges that the gang

have been convicted of carry hefty prison terms. They will be sentenced

later this month. A grandmother who tried

to sue Trump International for breaching her privacy has

lost her case. Rohan Beyts took on the company

after being told there was mobile phone footage of her that had been

recorded while she was urinating in sand dunes near the company's

Aberdeenshire golf course. The sand dunes skirt the Rohan Beyts

-- the temporary golf course. One day last April by walking with a

friend Rohan Beyts got caught short and answered the call of nature in

the sand dunes. That was caught on and answered the call of nature in

camera by a member of the golf course staff. They watched Rohan

Beyts and her friends that they as they were known for their opposition

to the Trump development. Rohan Beyts said she was distressed at

being photographed at such a moment and she sued for breach of privacy.

But golf course may have registered plenty of plaudits but she argued

they had not registered the data protection arrangements necessary

for the kind of surveillance carried out. The sheriff however was not

convinced by the argument. He said that the distress suffered by Rohan

Beyts had not been caused by the golf course bridging of state

registration requirements. He said there was no link between the lack

of registration and her distress. I was in it to clear my name because I

had been accused of doing something deliberately. I have been accused of

being close to the clubhouse which I was not. I was accused of doing it

in full view of people, I could see nobody. And the sheriff has

confirmed that he believes me and that is so important. Sheriff Donald

caught in its ruling pointed out that Rohan Beyts had been urinating

in circumstances where she would have a reasonable expectation of

privacy. He went on to observe that she should not have been

photographed. I have to emphasise that officious bystanders taking

pictures of the most urinating in the countryside put themselves at

real risk of prosecution. Whether for a public order offence or

voyeurism. Anyone in Scotland walking through the countryside and

has to go is perfectly entitled to go in terms of the Scottish outdoor

access code. And Rohan Beyts has been utterly vindicated in this

case. Trump International issued a statement saying we are satisfied

that justice has prevailed. The disingenuous claim they said by

Rohan Beyts was a perversion of the truth and nothing more than a poor

attempt at self publicity in an effort to garner support for her

anti-Trump, anti-business propaganda. Tonight Rohan Beyts is

glad that the case is over and plans a series of long-distance walks down

through Scotland. She says her roots may go through few toilets but even

fewer courses. Scotland's economy is hovering close

to recession and well behind that of the UK,

according to the latest figures. Could Scotland's Russel Knox be

the man to watch at the Masters, which gets under way

in Augusta tomorrow? The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon,

has arrived at the United Nations headquarters in New York,

where she's expected to announce new funding

for conflict resolution work. Our political correspondent,

Glenn Campbell, is at And while the UK takes the lead on

overseas aid, the Scottish Government also has a relatively

small budget for international assistance and the First Minister

arrived here in the last hour, and she would like to spend more of that

money on peace work. Symbolism is important in politics, and the First

Minister who would like one day to see the flag of an independent

Scotland flying between those of Saudi Arabia and Senegal, here at

the United Nations, has chosen this theatre of state had to send out her

government's more to world affairs government's more to world affairs

-- statehood. Her visit Karen sighs with an emergency meeting of the UN

Security Council -- coincides. Discussing the use of chemical

weapons in Syria. The UK is one of five permanent members of the

council, and the devolved minister is not involved in those

discussions, but she happens to be here at UN headquarters today to

give an address on human rights and conflict resolution organised

through the office of the UN special envoy to Syria. The First Minister

is committing extra cash to peace building work with ?1.2 million to

be spent in the next few years, training 200 women in conflict

resolution and mediation. Nicola Sturgeon indicated last night that

contributing positively on the international stage would be the

hallmark of the independent Scotland. Independence defined

within interdependence is the best way for us to build a fairer society

at home and to make a positive contribution to the world.

president of the UN General sellers president of the UN General sellers

-- assembly thinks more nations have a way to conceive it, even if they

don't choose independence. -- have a way to contribute. That is entirely

up to the people of Scotland to decide, but the more I go through

life I see life in terms of us being human beings on one planet and it is

not the divisions that are important, it is bringing us

altogether and that is why this place is so important. The Scottish

Government's cash at a little to the ?2.46 billion the Prime Minister has

committed to help Syria alone. -- adds a little. Supporters of the

union says Scottish can make a big impact internationally as part of

the UK, a global power with a big budget. And of course that is the

sort of debate that will intensify if there is going to be another

independence referendum, the First Minister said she is fairly certain

it will go ahead, despite the continuing stand-off between the

Scottish and UK governments and her political opponents wished that she

would call it off and concentrate instead on turning around the

Scottish economy. A campaign to vaccinate girls

against a cancer-causing sexually transmitted infection has led

to a dramatic drop in Researchers found a 90% reduction

in levels of the human papilloma virus in women since the vaccine

was made available in 2008. The virus is thought to account

for about 80% of cervical cancers. Public health specialists say

the large numbers of girls taking up The whole success stems from the

fact we have got a very high uptake of the vaccine and have done since

the inception of the programme and so a 90% uptake of all three doses

remove the iris from the population. remove the iris from the population.

-- virus. Events to commemorate 100 years

since one of the most significant events of the First World War

are taking place this Sunday. The Battle of Arras

in Northern France marked a major push against German forces

and featured the highest concentration of Scots troops

to fight at any point Donald Mackay was living in

Edinburgh when war broke out and he signed up for the Battle of Arras

like many young Scots. His dispatches from the front line are

this letter he sent home in 189017 this letter he sent home in 189017

-- April 19 17. He wrote this 17 days before he was killed in battle

at the age of 29. He seems to be an ordinary average young man of the

day, Nvidia felt they had a duty to go and fight -- who really felt. I

think law is a last resort, but the First World War haunts me and he

sort of haunts me, as well -- I think war is a last resort. It was

an offensive on the Western front, but the cost was high, one third of

the 159,000 casualties were Scottish. This weekend special

commemorations will be held here at the Scottish War memorial and in

France. There is nobody alive who was in that battle and so we are now

creating a lasting legacy based on stories that have been handed down

through generations of descendants. Organisers say the anniversary is an

important reminder of the past and one which will serve generations of

the future. It's one of the most eagerly awaited

events in the sporting year. Golf's Masters gets under way

in Augusta, Georgia tomorrow. And Russell Knox, one

of the two Scots competing, could be the man to watch,

according to a fellow Scot who's In the sporting calendar there are

few events which can rival its beauty, and only the best get to

battle with Augusta, but when play gets underway tomorrow there will be

just two Scots in the field. One is a former champion, Sandy Lyle, who

won 1998, but his odds to win this week tell their own story. Russell

Knox is in better shape than he has a few wins under his belt. He is

23rd in the world, although the bookmakers don't really fancy his

chances either. But as the man himself continued his preparations,

there was support back home. Maybe the conditions being a bit soft

might hamper him, he is not the longest, but he is a great iron

player and it would not be surprising if he is in the mix on

Sunday afternoon. Other European hopes rest with this man, the

Masters is the only one of the big four tournaments that has eluded

him. It has been relatively quiet which is quite nice, not that I feel

I can fly under the radar any more, but at the same time it has felt

that way to me. It has been nice to prepare and just go about my

business and try to get ready. But preparations this year have been

tricky with strong winds forecast and tornado warnings issued,

mastering Augusta this year could be even tougher than usual.

To the weather now, and it's over to Kawser.

It is quite windy, but it has been bright and quite breezy, but fairly

cloudy. There are a few holes to end the day to allow some sunny moments

and the best that has been towards the east. This picture from one of

our weather watchers, some bright blue skies, and for the evening it

is mostly dry, but fairly cloudy. In the course of the night we will have

the cloud thickener, and some of that thick enough for some drizzle,

and some fairly breezy weather across the Northern Isles.

Temperatures could dip to around 3-5 in the north-east. Elsewhere, 7-8.

Tomorrow fairly cloudy, the best of the brightness across the East Coast

and again the cloud thick enough for some light drizzle across parts of

higher ground in the North West. If you are heading out around four

o'clock in the afternoon, fairly cloudy and wet across the Shetlands,

and Orkney, brighter, and the North will have the best of the sunshine

and temperatures could reach 15. Cloudy elsewhere, the central belt

will be largely dry, like the South, and temperatures 10-11. I pressure

has been responsible for this fairly settled weather and that will be in

charge for Friday, as well. Fairly cloudy conditions will continue in

the West and the best of the brightness further to the east and

still quite breezy across the very far north and the Northern Isles

with tight isobars will stop this is the picture. The West East split.

Thicker cloud. Showery outbreaks of rain, but patchy, two wards the

ease, the best of the sunshine, and temperatures could reach 15 --

ease, the best of the sunshine, and towards the east. And we have a

change on the wafer Sunday and I will have more on that morrow. --

change on the way for Sunday and I will have more on that tomorrow.

Now a reminder of tonight's main news.

The Scottish economy is hovering close to recession according

They show output fell during the last three

months of last year, and fell well behind UK growth.

The UN Security Council has held an emergency session to discuss

the suspected gas attack on a rebel-held town in Syria.

The attack is believed to have killed more than 70 people,

Until then, from everyone on the team, right across the country,

I'm finding out for the first time I could have 17, 18 siblings.

They were the brothers and sisters scattered across Scotland.

I had no idea there were any of the others.