:00:19. > :00:23.MPs have overwhelmingly backed the Government to begin the formal
:00:24. > :00:28.process of the UK's departure from the EU.
:00:29. > :00:33.But the SNP's leader at Westminster says after Holyrood
:00:34. > :00:34.rejected the legislation, Theresa May doesn't have UK-wide
:00:35. > :00:43.Here's our Westminster correspondent, Nick Eardley.
:00:44. > :00:50.The Brexit debate can be relentless. Twist and turns as the Government
:00:51. > :00:54.prepares the ground work. But it is picking up pace. Tonight it reached
:00:55. > :01:01.another milestone. Some MPs signed the EU anthem as they voted, a last
:01:02. > :01:14.act of defiance as the House of Commons gave its blessing to start
:01:15. > :01:20.the Brexit process. A move endorsed by an overwhelming majority of MPs
:01:21. > :01:22.from across the UK but just one representing a Scottish seat. There
:01:23. > :01:27.was never any doubt that the Government would win the ball but it
:01:28. > :01:32.was a symbolic moment. MPs have agreed with Theresa May that Brexit
:01:33. > :01:39.means Brexit but there are divisions. What happens now? Without
:01:40. > :01:44.Amendment, without debating time sufficient, and there is outrage at
:01:45. > :01:51.the Government showing no sign of acceptance of the Scottish
:01:52. > :01:54.dimension. Yesterday the Scottish Parliament voted overwhelmingly to
:01:55. > :01:59.maintain our position within the single market. Labour's Scottish MP
:02:00. > :02:04.was one of dozens who defied his leadership to oppose the Government.
:02:05. > :02:08.This is not Scotland against the rest, I just felt we could not
:02:09. > :02:13.trigger Article 50 with the menu pigment was offering. I will
:02:14. > :02:18.continue with such arguments until there is a deal on the table but we
:02:19. > :02:25.can be proud of another gives us the softest of soft Brexits.
:02:26. > :02:31.The UK Government is... It has carried out the will of the
:02:32. > :02:35.people. That is what Parliament has done today. The Bill now goes to the
:02:36. > :02:39.House of Lords where it is also expected to pass but at the debate
:02:40. > :02:45.on Article 50 approaches its conclusion, the one over the future,
:02:46. > :02:47.Scotland's and the UK's, is far from over.
:02:48. > :02:50.The clashes over Brexit have led to more talk of a second
:02:51. > :02:51.independence referendum - and reports that Downing Street
:02:52. > :02:58.Earlier I spoke to our Political Editor Brian Taylor.
:02:59. > :03:00.Reports that the UK Government is preparing for a possible
:03:01. > :03:06.Of course they are preparing for a possible referendum on independence.
:03:07. > :03:13.It is what governments do when it comes to process.
:03:14. > :03:16.They were not all that sharp in preparing for the aftermath
:03:17. > :03:22.I think it is decidedly likely that there would be a referendum
:03:23. > :03:38.It is about moving to demands by the Scottish Parliament
:03:39. > :03:41.and government and suggesting the UK Government is not meeting
:03:42. > :03:47.If it comes to the point where the SNP, the Scottish Government,
:03:48. > :03:50.says it comes to an end and the UK Government is adamantly
:03:51. > :03:53.and definitely not producing a deal, I think there will be a referendum.
:03:54. > :03:55.It could be announced by Nicola Sturgeon at the SNP
:03:56. > :03:59.Do I think she will set out the details and the date?
:04:00. > :04:02.Will she mention Brexit and independence?
:04:03. > :04:05.It was once one of the North Sea's most valuable assets.
:04:06. > :04:09.But after 40 years of production, Shell has formally submitted
:04:10. > :04:12.its plans for dismantling its oil and gas platforms in the Brent field
:04:13. > :04:18.The company says it wants to leave in place many of the supporting legs
:04:19. > :04:21.but it insists its decommissioning proposals are environmentally sound.
:04:22. > :04:26.Here's our environment correspondent, Kevin Keane.
:04:27. > :04:29.They have produced 3 billion barrels of oil but now these platforms
:04:30. > :04:32.Today, the operator, Shell, submitted plans
:04:33. > :04:39.The top portions will go but controversially Shell wants
:04:40. > :04:47.Between them they hold 42 oil storage cells,
:04:48. > :04:51.still containing sediment, made up of sand, water and oil,
:04:52. > :04:57.and they will be left behind to the mercies of the North Sea.
:04:58. > :05:01.At some point in the future they will collapse.
:05:02. > :05:05.If we do not remove the contents of the cells, they could leak
:05:06. > :05:09.It is not the first time Shell has proposed leaving
:05:10. > :05:16.The occupation of Brent Spar in the mid-1990s eventually forced
:05:17. > :05:23.the company to change plans to drop it in the deep ocean.
:05:24. > :05:26.Today's decommission means the legs will not be moved at all.
:05:27. > :05:34.Shell insists this time it has got it right.
:05:35. > :05:35.The environmental impact associated with removing,
:05:36. > :05:39.and disposal of the sediment, one of the key issues we have looked
:05:40. > :05:44.at, is far greater than just leaving the sediment in place.
:05:45. > :05:47.In an offshore simulator, the First Minister
:05:48. > :05:54.announced a fund to give a lift to decommissioning infrastructure.
:05:55. > :06:00.And she says the Brent plan needs to be properly scrutinised.
:06:01. > :06:06.That has to be part of this process, making sure not only that
:06:07. > :06:08.decommissioning is done in a safe, efficient and cost-effective way
:06:09. > :06:11.in everyone's interests but in a way that respects the marine
:06:12. > :06:21.In the next few months, Shell will use this ship
:06:22. > :06:25.to remove the top portion of the Brent Delta platform.
:06:26. > :06:28.Today's submission is for the rest of this field.
:06:29. > :06:31.The consultation is due to last 60 days.
:06:32. > :06:34.The CEO of the world's biggest technology company has described
:06:35. > :06:37.as a "crisis" Donald Trump's ban on people entering the United States
:06:38. > :06:41.Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, was speaking after being made
:06:42. > :06:43.an honorary Doctor of Science at Glasgow University.
:06:44. > :06:45.He said Apple would not exist without immigration -
:06:46. > :06:54.and that to stand and say nothing was to become part of the problem.
:06:55. > :07:08.Apple would not exist without immigration. This is a huge issue
:07:09. > :07:10.for us. What do we do? We voice our opinion. We stand up. We do not sit
:07:11. > :07:26.in silence. are to be introduced to improve
:07:27. > :07:29.forensic examinations It follows claims that rape victims
:07:30. > :07:33.in the Northern Isles don't report it because they have to travel
:07:34. > :07:36.to the mainland for forensic tests. Our Home Affairs Correspondent,
:07:37. > :07:37.Reevel Alderson, reports. This is the forensic examination
:07:38. > :07:40.area, where any client who has been raped or sexually assaulted will be
:07:41. > :07:43.brought to be examined. This Glasgow clinic was the first
:07:44. > :07:45.of its kind in Scotland. Rape victims receive
:07:46. > :07:46.medical attention. Evidence is gathered
:07:47. > :07:48.for a possible prosecution. On this side of the area
:07:49. > :07:50.is the medical practitioners and on the other side of the screen
:07:51. > :07:53.are the police officers. Rape victims elsewhere have
:07:54. > :07:55.different experiences. One reason, a lack of female doctors
:07:56. > :07:57.to carry out testing. A Government survey has been
:07:58. > :08:02.launched to find out why. The Government survey aims to find
:08:03. > :08:06.out why so few female doctors are prepared to offer this service
:08:07. > :08:08.for victims of serious Whether it is because they don't
:08:09. > :08:13.understand what is involved or whether there is a fear
:08:14. > :08:34.about the length of time This Dr in Stornoway does carry out
:08:35. > :08:41.examinations and she urges colleagues to join her. To be
:08:42. > :08:48.supportive, to have the professional skills around treatment and care.
:08:49. > :08:51.In the Northern Isles no doctor is carrying out forensic
:08:52. > :09:01.It's claimed some victims are reluctant to travel
:09:02. > :09:04.Campaigners have welcomed the review and a Government announcement
:09:05. > :09:09.for a new national standard for forensic examinations.
:09:10. > :09:14.There is far too much variation depending where you live in Scotland
:09:15. > :09:25.We need to look at how to get more female doctors to do these
:09:26. > :09:31.The Government hopes the changes will be looked at later this year.
:09:32. > :09:34.Hundreds of people have been queuing for a rare glimpse of the last
:09:35. > :09:37.letter Mary Queen of Scots wrote on the day she was executed.
:09:38. > :09:40.As Morag Kinniburgh reports the National Library of Scotland
:09:41. > :09:43.says it's so precious it can only go on show for the day.
:09:44. > :09:45.Queueing up to see one of the most powerful
:09:46. > :09:52.and precious papers in Scotland, on show for one day only.
:09:53. > :09:54.It is 430 years today since Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded.
:09:55. > :09:57.It shows the Queen probably at the most stressful time
:09:58. > :10:03.She was to be executed at eight o'clock in the morning
:10:04. > :10:05.and was only told of it the night before.
:10:06. > :10:10.So with what little time she had left she tried to make the most
:10:11. > :10:13.of that time and she prepared herself and wrote one last letter
:10:14. > :10:22.to her brother-in-law the King of France.
:10:23. > :10:31.If you listen to my doctor and other unfortunate servants you will learn
:10:32. > :10:35.the truth and how, thanks to God, I scorn death and vow that I meet it
:10:36. > :10:38.The Queen is angry at being branded a criminal,
:10:39. > :10:42.Demand to see the letter has been so high that the library has
:10:43. > :10:46.But why queue up for so long when you consider it is
:10:47. > :10:50.Because it is the real thing and you imagine this lady,
:10:51. > :10:53.Mary Queen of Scots, actually touched it and wrote it.
:10:54. > :11:00.We're just honoured to have that here in Scotland and the fact
:11:01. > :11:04.is that we can see it in the flesh and it is so rare to be able to do
:11:05. > :11:09.I know you can do all kinds of things on a computer screen
:11:10. > :11:12.but really it is not the same as actually seeing it.
:11:13. > :11:14.This letter has special security status and returns
:11:15. > :11:23.No one will say when it will be shown in public again.
:11:24. > :11:25.Let's get the weather outlook now and Christopher's got
:11:26. > :11:43.It is a call and frosty nights to come with clear skies across a good
:11:44. > :11:46.part of the country. Dry for many that Eastern parts, still a number
:11:47. > :11:55.of showers, sleet and snow in the mix. Icy patches. Tomorrow morning
:11:56. > :12:02.it is a dry and cold frosty start. Spells of crisp sunshine. Not quite
:12:03. > :12:06.as cold across the Hebrides. Stronger winds here. On Eastern
:12:07. > :12:10.coasts perhaps just above freezing but more cloud. Further north some
:12:11. > :12:13.spells of sunshine to start the day but for Orkney and Shetland this
:12:14. > :12:17.will be a windy morning with frequent showers. Through the course
:12:18. > :12:22.of the morning we hold onto those bright conditions at the cloud will
:12:23. > :12:26.steadily increase for West Central Scotland and the south-west, in the
:12:27. > :12:30.East despite being cloudier some brighter moments at times, but
:12:31. > :12:35.showers never far away. Across the UK as a whole largely dry, fairly
:12:36. > :12:41.cloudy, across north Sea coasts quite a number of showers coming in.
:12:42. > :12:47.When three at times. For England and Wales cold than today, for as
:12:48. > :12:52.similar than today. Those showers continuing as we head towards
:12:53. > :12:55.Thursday night and into Friday. If anything it is turning heavier
:12:56. > :13:00.particularly across parts of Shetland and the north-east. As we
:13:01. > :13:04.head overnight into Friday morning, likely to have some accumulations of
:13:05. > :13:09.snow across Eastern parts, but they are showers, so not a huge amount.
:13:10. > :13:12.With easterly winds continuing Western parts once again seeing the
:13:13. > :13:19.best of any drive, bright weather. But it will be cold. Looking ahead
:13:20. > :13:24.towards the weekend, easterlies continue to blow, and largely dry
:13:25. > :13:29.and settled, but any showers will be in the East.