:01:01. > :01:06.She the shadow business Secretary joins us for the Sunday interview.
:01:06. > :01:10.Last night, Britain's cast their vote and had their say on Europe.
:01:10. > :01:13.Could be soon be voting on a more profound issue one who should be
:01:13. > :01:18.winning the Eurovision Song Contest? Namely, whether Britain
:01:18. > :01:22.should leave the European Union altogether. They form at the Europe
:01:22. > :01:31.Minister and the UK leader go head to head. Whether it is time to stay
:01:31. > :01:34.in the Eurovision or walk away from And on Sunday Politics Scotland,
:01:34. > :01:38.the Yes campaign is up and running as Alex Salmond seeks to sign up
:01:38. > :01:48.one million Scots to take part in his independence crusade. Will it
:01:48. > :01:48.
:01:48. > :27:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1514 seconds
:27:02. > :27:06.chime with the public, or strike a You cannot be so unpleasant about
:27:06. > :27:09.foreigners in Britain and immigrants in Britain and then say,
:27:09. > :27:13.off we would like to increase trade with these other countries. You
:27:13. > :27:18.cannot be open for business and closed to foreigners. That is UK
:27:18. > :27:25.policy. The UK policy is that we cannot have open-door immigration,
:27:25. > :27:31.and at a time of recession, which we have now... Speaking of the UK
:27:31. > :27:35.referendum, isn't it the fact or that he might get his way? De
:27:35. > :27:40.Eurozone may become more tightly integrated, and we will not become
:27:40. > :27:46.part of that. We will be on the outside. We will be more martial is,
:27:46. > :27:52.except that. You can have an end or out referendum, we can these these
:27:52. > :27:56.you'd hands what would change? what would we lose? We would lose
:27:56. > :27:59.the position that we have gained over a could choose years of being
:27:59. > :28:05.in there fighting as hard as we can to maintain open and liberal
:28:05. > :28:10.policies. For example, when mad-cow disease struck and our beef was
:28:10. > :28:16.absolutely safe, the European Union where one of the only places that
:28:16. > :28:22.would accept it, Hong Kong, or colony, said, British beef, you
:28:22. > :28:27.must be joking. We can be flippant about our agricultural industry, it
:28:27. > :28:31.is important for her farmers that they can export. If we are outside
:28:31. > :28:36.the European Union, then exports would come to a juddering halt.
:28:36. > :28:39.Shouldn't we renegotiate and put that to the people, rather than in
:28:39. > :28:42.or out? People would like to know the Thames. There could be
:28:42. > :28:46.different terms under which we could stay in. We have tried to
:28:46. > :28:51.renegotiate for many years now. I have come to the conclusion that
:28:51. > :28:58.this is on the form a ball. If we go back to a referendum, the last
:28:58. > :29:05.time we had a referendum on this many people voted, but the likes of
:29:05. > :29:09.me, I was not even a twinkle in my mother's eye. Yes or no, who would
:29:09. > :29:14.win? I think if face with isolating ourselves completely from the
:29:14. > :29:20.business community, even some of the offshore owned press, would say
:29:20. > :29:24.that this is insanity. For a referendum, will be would stay.
:29:24. > :29:34.think we would come out. I think the British people are of that
:29:34. > :29:38.
:29:38. > :29:43.belief at the moment. To Gentleman, Good morning and welcome to Sunday
:29:43. > :29:48.Politics Scotland. Coming up: they're off! Only another 2.5 years
:29:48. > :29:52.to go. As the Yes campaign watches, we ask what are the details that
:29:52. > :29:56.will help you make up your mind? The Scottish Secretary Michael
:29:56. > :30:00.Moore will give you his take on events, and the SNP's Stewart Hosie
:30:00. > :30:06.will encourage you to sign the declaration.
:30:06. > :30:11.And hopelessly devoted to you, get it? Sorry. You will hear other
:30:11. > :30:15.options for greater powers. And I am going to Dublin to find out the
:30:15. > :30:18.impact that the economic downturn is having on Scotland's councils
:30:18. > :30:23.stop what have you seen at the movies this week?
:30:23. > :30:26.Here at the Sunday Politics be taking the latest instalment in a
:30:26. > :30:30.long-running drama. Critics have had mixed reactions, but fans
:30:30. > :30:35.believe it is the start of something special. Producers are do
:30:35. > :30:45.not expect an Oscar. We gave our correspondent a few quid and told
:30:45. > :30:56.
:30:57. > :31:01.It is a rather surreal Friday morning at the movies. The cinema
:31:01. > :31:07.here at Fenton breeches pretty packed, there are around 20 minutes
:31:07. > :31:11.to go until the big launch and anticipation is growing. The hosts,
:31:11. > :31:16.Marton Compston, said that the main man at Sean Connery was not there.
:31:16. > :31:22.He read out a statement that left the audience a little deflated.
:31:22. > :31:27.Then the other main man appeared with this. When we entered the
:31:27. > :31:30.referendum campaign in autumn 2014, our intention is to have one
:31:30. > :31:36.million Scots having signed the independence for Scotland
:31:36. > :31:40.declaration. Quite what you are signing up for in an independent
:31:40. > :31:50.Scotland is unclear. What followed has been called a bizarre mixture
:31:50. > :31:51.
:31:51. > :31:55.The cast of characters are anchored in Scottish culture and politics
:31:55. > :31:59.gave what they hoped were convincing performances. Echoing
:31:59. > :32:02.the main theme of essentially, let Scots decide their own future as
:32:02. > :32:06.Westminster does not have the foggiest.
:32:06. > :32:10.One SNP strategist says he wanted the ones to take place in a cinema
:32:10. > :32:14.because it is where real people go, and it is a that people and not
:32:14. > :32:19.politicians. The audience in the auditorium were very enthusiastic,
:32:19. > :32:24.but they now have a task in hand, an almost evangelical one, to
:32:24. > :32:28.convince the unconvinced. So the heat is on, but some
:32:28. > :32:32.surprise at what has been called a watch to the left. Those enjoying
:32:32. > :32:38.the sun in Glasgow give their reaction. Would you vote yes to an
:32:38. > :32:47.independent Scotland? I think I would. Definitely. In the pen and
:32:47. > :32:54.Scotland. I would need to read up on it more. I am not sure. Know. I
:32:54. > :33:00.just do not think it would be a good thing. Mixed reviews in the
:33:00. > :33:04.newspapers, the lack of detail and early lot coming in for criticism.
:33:04. > :33:09.The rush matters, but it is more about content, substance and
:33:09. > :33:14.strategy, or rather the lack of strategy. It has emerged that all
:33:14. > :33:17.political parties kind of arrogant, they believe their own propaganda.
:33:17. > :33:24.They believe their own hype and believe they are bright and
:33:24. > :33:31.brilliant. It is a naive and enlightened arrogance.
:33:31. > :33:34.surprisingly, the Unionists did not give this feature many stars either.
:33:34. > :33:38.Scotland England's Ireland and Wales, will be all stand tall as it
:33:38. > :33:42.individual nations but there is a thread that binds us together. I
:33:42. > :33:46.believe in the United Kingdom, I believe Scotland is a great country
:33:46. > :33:48.but is better in the United Kingdom. Another argument is that there
:33:48. > :33:55.simply is not the support for independence according to polling
:33:55. > :33:59.evidence. The response? Lazy thinking. I except that we have
:33:59. > :34:02.ground to make up, and that is exactly why we are having this
:34:02. > :34:06.campaign over the next few years. It will be interesting to see what
:34:06. > :34:14.the talking heads in Westminster took it the next Paul shows
:34:14. > :34:17.independence support shifting upwards. They are so complacent.
:34:17. > :34:22.that is the main feature over. Brace yourself for a sequel and
:34:22. > :34:29.stand by for the new release. The pro-union campaign. Probably not
:34:29. > :34:36.appearing in a cinema near you. Joining me now in her Edinburgh
:34:36. > :34:39.studio is Michael Moore, good morning Mr Moore. Good morning.
:34:39. > :34:44.central message from the Capital Bond was that the people best
:34:44. > :34:50.placed to make decisions for Scotland are the people who
:34:50. > :34:53.actually live here. You cannot disagree with that, can you? I am
:34:53. > :34:58.delighted that we have the campaign underway, be have the biggest
:34:58. > :35:02.decision in 300 years facing all of us who live here in Scotland. I
:35:02. > :35:07.think this will come down to a simple proposition, that we are
:35:07. > :35:11.stronger as part of the United Kingdom and weaker apart. Came just
:35:11. > :35:15.the vox pops that featured in to report, he saw the range of views
:35:16. > :35:19.and doubts that people have. I think that comes from thinking
:35:19. > :35:24.through what is best for us in Scotland at what will go was the
:35:24. > :35:29.strongest economy and make us more secure in the world. I think what
:35:29. > :35:32.matters is that we have the modern Scotland within the United Kingdom
:35:32. > :35:38.and that we do take the key decisions here at home in Scotland,
:35:38. > :35:42.but are part of the United Kingdom taking bigger decisions together.
:35:42. > :35:45.Don't those key decisions feature, what our taxes should be, what a
:35:45. > :35:50.welfare should be and what kind of society we should have? Shouldn't
:35:50. > :35:54.they be in the hands of people living in Scotland? That is the
:35:54. > :35:58.choice that people will have to take. When I talk to people around
:35:58. > :36:03.the country, and the like the fact that their pensions are secured
:36:03. > :36:07.with and the strength of the United Kingdom as a whole. There is a
:36:07. > :36:10.furnace across the United Kingdom to which they can attach themselves.
:36:10. > :36:14.They like the fact that Scottish businesses do not have to worry
:36:14. > :36:17.about differences in how we do things in Scotland at the best of
:36:17. > :36:22.the United Kingdom, her biggest market for goods and services.
:36:22. > :36:24.Their jobs are more secure, the Investment more likely. When it
:36:24. > :36:29.comes to keep things like International Development and what
:36:29. > :36:32.we do to help the poorest in the world, what we do to help Scottish
:36:32. > :36:38.fishermen and farmers have cloud in Europe, being part of the United
:36:38. > :36:42.Kingdom is good for Scotland. The positive reasons for being in the
:36:42. > :36:48.United Kingdom will secure the right outcome for the referendum.
:36:48. > :36:56.When will the no campaign launch? We are already engaged in debate
:36:56. > :36:58.and are delighted that we already have opinions from those who all
:36:58. > :37:03.ready of want Scotland to be independent. We will see the cross-
:37:03. > :37:07.party group watched before too long. Already, significant voices like
:37:07. > :37:11.that of former Chancellor Alastair Darling are part of that campaign.
:37:11. > :37:15.We have a while to go and there will be plenty of time for all the
:37:15. > :37:20.details and dates to a reworks the. You see the formal campaign will
:37:20. > :37:28.begin soon, but when will it begin? That is not a matter for me as a
:37:28. > :37:34.Government minister dot back but you will be part of that? I have a
:37:34. > :37:39.diary, I will fill it in! cross-party group will make that
:37:39. > :37:43.plain a very soon. We will go across the parties and we will have
:37:43. > :37:47.people across Scotland, from all walks of life. I thought it was
:37:47. > :37:51.significant this week that we saw precious little from the business
:37:51. > :37:54.community supporting the Independent's campaign. It is
:37:54. > :38:01.people the length and breadth of the country that will determine
:38:01. > :38:04.this, whatever their walk of life. You talk about a positive campaign
:38:04. > :38:08.for the union, and you talk about being cross-party with people like
:38:08. > :38:12.Alastair Darling been involved, but he was speaking on Friday not a
:38:12. > :38:16.pretty positive message but actually warning of the dangers of
:38:16. > :38:18.independence in his view for the Scottish economy. How frustrating
:38:18. > :38:27.is that Ford you that there are lots of scare stories going around
:38:27. > :38:31.about Scotland? The important point here is that we ask all the great
:38:31. > :38:34.questions. Every business person I speak to add that everyone I speak
:38:34. > :38:38.to in factories the length and breadth of the country asks
:38:38. > :38:42.questions about what will happen to a currency, what will happen to her
:38:42. > :38:45.interest rates? Wendy Shea suggested that we will still be
:38:45. > :38:51.part of the sterling and still be linked to the back of England and
:38:51. > :38:56.that nothing much will change, they are very doubtful about that. They
:38:56. > :38:59.ask, what kind of independence is this? Can be be way be influential
:38:59. > :39:03.when we are outside of the parliament were all the key
:39:03. > :39:06.decisions are taken? It is important that we focus on these
:39:06. > :39:12.questions as well as reminding people of the great strengths we
:39:12. > :39:20.have as part of the United Kingdom. Can we be certain that the United
:39:20. > :39:24.Kingdom Government did not object to the timetable of 2014 gym --?
:39:24. > :39:30.have said before that we do not see the timing as a barrier to the
:39:30. > :39:36.referendum. So we can all settle down to a referendum in the autumn
:39:36. > :39:41.of 2014? It is important that people are examining issues that
:39:42. > :39:47.affect us as Scots in our daily lives. We want clarity and a fair,
:39:47. > :39:50.legal and decisive referendum. That is why I want to meet with the
:39:50. > :39:56.First Minister and have a proper, full-blooded debate about the
:39:56. > :39:59.future of our country. Will we have you in the studio, I believe the
:39:59. > :40:04.Ministry of Defence are announcing today the sale of the former RAF
:40:04. > :40:09.base at Machrihanish, what are you doing there and what impact will it
:40:09. > :40:13.have in the local community? I met with the local community groups
:40:13. > :40:18.just over a year ago and they are working -- they have been working
:40:18. > :40:26.very hard for a long time to get poorer shape of Machrihanish, and I
:40:26. > :40:31.am delighted that they are using a right to ownership. -- to get
:40:31. > :40:36.proper ownership. They will take over a huge asset and make sure it
:40:36. > :40:41.works for the local community and help to rebuild the local economy.
:40:41. > :40:45.Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, thank you for joining us.
:40:45. > :40:48.And in her other studio is the SNP's treasury spokesperson Stewart
:40:48. > :40:56.Hosie. Are you impressed with the positive campaign from your
:40:56. > :41:00.opponents? I thought that Michael was funny at the end there, he now
:41:00. > :41:04.wants to discuss the detail and not the nitty gritty of the no campaign.
:41:04. > :41:08.All they have done before he has his pick fights over the referendum
:41:08. > :41:13.process, I am pleased that we now have a agreement on the date and
:41:13. > :41:18.other mechanics. In terms of the detail, that was a criticism of the
:41:18. > :41:23.lodge on Friday, Jihad music and song and poetry and auditoria, but
:41:23. > :41:33.there was no great detail about what would happen if Scotland voted
:41:33. > :41:34.
:41:34. > :41:40.for independence. -- you had music and song. It will be in 2014, as it
:41:40. > :41:45.-- and this is important because it gives people the best part probably
:41:45. > :41:50.easier to realise the importance of what they are voting on. Issues
:41:50. > :41:55.like the Queen as head of state, being in the European Union and the
:41:55. > :41:59.sterling as the currency. Then there is the policy standpoint, the
:41:59. > :42:03.decisions that the Parliament takes. They are a matter for 2016 and then
:42:03. > :42:07.after. If we win the referendum, there will be elections to the
:42:07. > :42:11.Scottish Parliament in 2016 had people can then choose if they want
:42:11. > :42:15.the social democratic model of the SNP, a green model, a socialist
:42:15. > :42:20.model or a combination of models. That is what happens in elections
:42:20. > :42:25.in every other country and it will happen in Scotland as well.
:42:25. > :42:31.mentioned a few other policy areas, some debate in recent days about
:42:31. > :42:36.your policy on a NATO. Can you confirm that if there is an
:42:36. > :42:39.independent Scotland in the May election, will be SNP's policy
:42:39. > :42:43.going to that election be that you will not become a member of NATO?
:42:43. > :42:48.The party policy breaks now is that the Brits eat to leave NATO. I have
:42:48. > :42:53.not seen anything that would imply that we would seek to change that.
:42:53. > :42:57.In terms of other details, there will be a gap in the lot of the Yes
:42:57. > :43:02.campaign this month and the White Paper, how much of a danger is
:43:03. > :43:07.there as an SNP member that you now have these other voices? We heard
:43:07. > :43:11.Patrick Hardy for instance giving a different vision of an independent
:43:11. > :43:21.Scotland, than that of Alex Salmond. Using oil and gas much less, is
:43:21. > :43:23.
:43:23. > :43:28.Not in the slightest. Government has to publish the white
:43:28. > :43:32.paper, but in terms of a different vision after independence, that is
:43:32. > :43:36.healthy. Her in the UK, there are all these political parties arguing
:43:36. > :43:40.for their own positions. It is quite right and proper but we have
:43:40. > :43:45.different voices say no We would like our independent Scotland to
:43:45. > :43:50.have this vision in the future. Let's ensues as many people from
:43:50. > :43:54.across the spectrum as we can to deliver independence. In the 2016
:43:54. > :43:57.election, let's put these different visions to the Test and come up
:43:57. > :44:03.with a PR Parliament that actually reflects the views of the people of
:44:03. > :44:07.Scotland. BS can peel and will be largely dominated by the SNP, even
:44:07. > :44:11.though you have these other voices. In terms of resources and help,
:44:11. > :44:18.what difference will have in the Scottish socialists and Scottish
:44:18. > :44:26.Greens on board make? The year scam pain and the launch was incredibly
:44:26. > :44:30.exciting on Friday. -- yes campaign. There are at least
:44:30. > :44:34.three on board and that is good. There hour people from the artistic
:44:34. > :44:38.community and the business community and all walks of life.
:44:38. > :44:43.That will be a strength in what will be the biggest-ever community
:44:43. > :44:47.campaign in Scotland as we move forward to the referendum. You're
:44:47. > :44:55.up opponents say they now have them momentum.
:44:55. > :45:00.-- you're opponents. That the SNP won the Le local-government
:45:00. > :45:04.elections but that was not a referendum on independence.
:45:04. > :45:08.As the First Minister said under earlier package, we now have a job
:45:08. > :45:16.to do to convince those people. There are open and less thing and
:45:16. > :45:19.they want to hear a case. We want to deliver a majority in 2014.
:45:19. > :45:22.Now, there are others who think there is a better middle way in
:45:22. > :45:31.Scotland's constitutional debate. Hayley Jarvis takes a look at the
:45:31. > :45:36.alternatives. Independent. Are you for it or
:45:36. > :45:40.against it? Or maybe you would prefer something in between the two.
:45:40. > :45:43.Would that be Devo Plus? Pro union supporters which come from across
:45:43. > :45:48.the er the political spectrum are expected to unfurled their flight
:45:48. > :45:51.within the coming months, with a message that Scotland is stronger
:45:51. > :45:56.within the United Kingdom than a loan, especially when it comes to
:45:56. > :46:02.the economy and defence. They will promote the benefits of the
:46:02. > :46:10.Scotland Act, which gives Holyrood or parser the spending and
:46:10. > :46:13.borrowing. Devo Plus is also attracting cross-party support.
:46:13. > :46:18.Reform Scotland is calling for greater powers for a Holyrood
:46:18. > :46:24.within the Union. This would put Scotland in charge of raising 100%
:46:24. > :46:28.of the cash its dens. There will be some key taxes, such as VAT and
:46:28. > :46:35.National Insurance, left out. Some would go even further when it comes
:46:35. > :46:40.to unpicking the current political make-up of the UK. Those in favour
:46:40. > :46:44.of devilish and Max want Holyrood to have sold tax bars. This would
:46:44. > :46:48.have all all powers to Holyrood, leaving Westminster in charge of
:46:48. > :46:54.foreign affairs and defence, to which Scotland would pay its own it
:46:54. > :46:57.contribution. More ideas on the constitutional future could emerge,
:46:57. > :47:01.but will these options be on the ballot paper?
:47:01. > :47:03.In the studio is the trade unionist, Dave Moxham. He's part of the
:47:03. > :47:13.Future For Scotland campaign. And in our Selkirk studio, the former
:47:13. > :47:14.
:47:14. > :47:18.liberal democrat MSP Jeremy Purvis. He's heading up the Devo Plus group.
:47:18. > :47:25.Do we have, your organisation has called for a debate. We have one
:47:25. > :47:28.now, don't we? Our organisation is pleased to engage in debate, but
:47:28. > :47:36.there is a danger that we are moving too quickly into campaign
:47:36. > :47:39.mode and away from listening mode. Who should you be listening to?
:47:39. > :47:44.For our own members and a member has of a other organisations.
:47:44. > :47:49.We should be organising a debate in which people feel able to ask the
:47:49. > :47:56.questions they want to ask without the fear that we are automatically
:47:56. > :48:02.signing up for yes or no. Do you agree become has been fire to
:48:02. > :48:07.quickly? He raised as to good.
:48:07. > :48:16.. What we have seen it in the last two days is more about tactics and
:48:16. > :48:24.campaigning rather than substance. Wednesday you think we should start
:48:24. > :48:27.a substantial have to be it? -- when it do you think. The longer
:48:27. > :48:35.people have to think about it and to debate the issues, the better,
:48:35. > :48:42.surely? The Devo Plus Group has published a its proposed laws and
:48:42. > :48:45.you can read them on the website. It is a real step forward, giving
:48:45. > :48:50.the Scottish Parliament greater powers and more accountability to
:48:50. > :48:55.the Scottish people. We have to do us all out there now and I think
:48:55. > :49:01.that for the official yes and no campaign, issues of substance have
:49:01. > :49:07.to be given. There is any opportunity for them to be giving
:49:07. > :49:11.that. But we're hoping to persuade parties and people out with their
:49:11. > :49:16.party political process that there is a real alternative to
:49:16. > :49:21.independents and that is the way forward through Devo Plus. I am
:49:21. > :49:26.hoping that the Unionist parties will accept the case. They have
:49:26. > :49:31.given mandate indication that they are interested. When a formal
:49:31. > :49:41.campaign is launched, there is a clear choice between separation,
:49:41. > :49:47.independence, and Devo Plus. Isn't the danger that if you can rayon
:49:47. > :49:57.listening for month after month, you'll just get ignored?
:49:57. > :49:57.
:49:57. > :50:01.That would be a case at the way the King at a referendum next year.
:50:01. > :50:10.Give us an idea of what you guys are thinking a bout for Stott it is
:50:10. > :50:14.OK to say you're in listening mode, but what are your parameters?
:50:14. > :50:18.It is an untested stated squad because of and boss changes that
:50:18. > :50:22.have yet be tested. We have been listening to deuce on
:50:22. > :50:26.independence. Are we are of the view that clear elements have been
:50:26. > :50:31.identified whereby enhanced by evolution could be put forward.
:50:31. > :50:36.Some of those have been identified by the Devo Plus campaign. They
:50:36. > :50:40.raised important issues, but not all the issues. Our personal
:50:40. > :50:44.current criticism of that is that they have looked at the nuts and
:50:44. > :50:53.bolts of tax, but there are other wider questions. If you're going to
:50:53. > :50:55.look at tax and welfare, you need to look at regulation powers, the
:50:55. > :51:05.employment market clock powers which occurred be held at
:51:05. > :51:05.
:51:05. > :51:12.Westminster. I think Devo Plus have made a significant start. You were
:51:13. > :51:22.not ambitious enough. Our focus initially her as a benign
:51:22. > :51:30.the AA credibility of build a in my. Laugh cough I next piece of work is
:51:30. > :51:34.going to be put for words about better social justice. There is not
:51:34. > :51:39.only the flexibility, but the UK structure that reflects and is
:51:39. > :51:43.accountable to Holyrood and the people of Scotland better. We are
:51:43. > :51:47.in that process of work already. And that is why it is really
:51:47. > :51:57.important that we have honesty with people that there are consequences
:51:57. > :52:03.to both yes and no back position in the referendum. We're hoping that
:52:03. > :52:09.their No. Side argues for enhanced bars across the her socialite comes
:52:09. > :52:14.across the UK. There should be a long-term sustainable relationship
:52:14. > :52:18.between Scotland and the rest of the UK. It will be a long debate.
:52:18. > :52:21.Thank you. And now here's the lunchtime news,
:52:21. > :52:23.with Andrew Kerr. Good morning. The former airbase at
:52:23. > :52:26.Machrihanish on the Kintyre peninsula has been sold by the
:52:26. > :52:29.Ministry of Defence for �1. The buyer is a company owned and
:52:29. > :52:34.controlled by local people, who hope the site can help reinvigorate
:52:34. > :52:43.the local economy near Campbeltown. The former RAF station was
:52:43. > :52:47.strategically important during the Cold War. And delighted that using
:52:47. > :52:52.the right-to-buy legislation that we have ourselves in a position
:52:52. > :52:56.where the local community body will take over that you just sit and
:52:56. > :52:58.make sure it works for the local community and helps them to rebuild
:52:59. > :53:02.the local economy. Hundreds of households in the north
:53:02. > :53:05.are being advised to take action after high levels of radon gas were
:53:05. > :53:07.discovered in some areas. Concentrated pockets were found in
:53:07. > :53:10.the Highlands and Deeside. It's a naturally occurring radioactive gas,
:53:10. > :53:14.but it's been linked to cancer. Testing kits were sent to some
:53:14. > :53:17.people last year. People who discover high results are being
:53:17. > :53:21.urged to contact the authorities. The Edinburgh Marathon got underway
:53:21. > :53:24.this morning. Hundreds of runners set off in the sun. It's the tenth
:53:24. > :53:29.time it's been run and it's helped raise more than �30 million for
:53:29. > :53:37.raise more than �30 million for hundreds of charities.
:53:37. > :53:40.That's the news, now a look at the weather. Here's Judith.
:53:40. > :53:44.We are still in the middle of this heatwave.
:53:44. > :53:51.There has been cloud in the coastal areas, but that has cleared away
:53:51. > :53:55.nicely. Everywhere is dry with lots of sunshine. Into the low twenties
:53:55. > :53:59.already. That's it for the moment. Our next
:53:59. > :54:04.bulletin is at 6.05pm this evening. I'll hand now hand you back to
:54:04. > :54:07.Some of Scotland's rural towns could no longer be sustainable in
:54:07. > :54:10.the future. That is the conclusion of a new report into the rural
:54:10. > :54:13.economy in a time of recession. Researchers from the Scottish
:54:13. > :54:15.Agricultural College have drawn up a vulnerability index to calculate
:54:15. > :54:20.how current economic and social changes are affecting these rural
:54:20. > :54:30.communities. Our reporter Gilly Mathieson has been to Dunoon, one
:54:30. > :54:32.
:54:32. > :54:35.of the places identified as at most risk. Dunoon is one of a cluster of
:54:35. > :54:40.row will towns which new research from the Scottish Agricultural
:54:40. > :54:45.Centre says our most honourable to the economic downturn.
:54:45. > :54:49.Here in Dunoon, 60% of the population are of working age and
:54:50. > :54:54.of those who do work, 56% are employed by the public sector. That
:54:54. > :54:57.is a lot higher than towns have a similar size across the country.
:54:57. > :55:03.The local economy relies on the spending power of those who work
:55:03. > :55:06.for the public sector. Although the council have promised that there
:55:06. > :55:14.will be no compulsory redundancies, there are concerns that jobs could
:55:14. > :55:17.be lost as the council continues to make its cuts. There is still worry
:55:17. > :55:21.and uncertainty as we progressed. That it is like Lee to be a big
:55:21. > :55:24.case over the next three years. This is a local charity which
:55:24. > :55:28.offers free therapy and self help to are will swear mental health
:55:28. > :55:34.issue. The charity says many of those that helps are under
:55:34. > :55:39.increasing financial pressure. Until April 2011, Mehdi adults with
:55:39. > :55:42.mental health problems who required additional help were able to access
:55:42. > :55:50.support workers has no cost to them through the local authority. That
:55:50. > :55:52.policy has now changed. Lots of people chose not to pay for their
:55:52. > :56:01.support their pre- the EC has for an of in a.
:56:01. > :56:05.As a result, as a service, we became much busier. This bakery was
:56:06. > :56:13.founded Heron 1920s to and employs 37 for full-time staff. Business
:56:14. > :56:23.has never been so tough. We have to distribute to Campbell's-hell and
:56:23. > :56:26.the brown mould Nila, all these places. It is have a problem. This
:56:26. > :56:31.is the local bookshop. She was hoping to manage the business from
:56:31. > :56:37.home by of the bra Bank X is so poor that she is unable to handle
:56:37. > :56:42.basic paper work. Publishers will have their
:56:42. > :56:46.catalogues online. They send those to me and back cannot download and.
:56:46. > :56:51.It's cannot actually you get through to the computer and blocks
:56:51. > :56:54.it up. All the males suffer following it kept locked up. With
:56:54. > :56:59.the public and private sector under pressure, young people here have
:56:59. > :57:03.fewer options. Unless it is for somebody he has
:57:03. > :57:07.got experience and his older, a fury of an purse and in this town,
:57:07. > :57:13.you do not have the chance. Companies have just gone bust and
:57:14. > :57:16.there is nothing for young people. The council is now led by an SNP
:57:16. > :57:20.administration who say they were will be lots being the Scot has
:57:20. > :57:24.Government for help to improve its infrastructure.
:57:24. > :57:30.We must be better at connected to the rest of Scotland. Particularly
:57:30. > :57:35.in communities like the us. If we get that our collection then
:57:35. > :57:39.their ability for us to attract inward investment is significant.
:57:39. > :57:44.With so many of Orrell town suffering under the economic
:57:44. > :57:47.downturn, or what can and should be doing it to ensure their future
:57:47. > :57:50.survival. Joining me now in the studio is one
:57:50. > :57:53.of the authors of the SAC report Dr Sarah Skerrat and from our Bristol
:57:53. > :58:03.studio we're joined by Robin Chater from the think-tank, The Federation
:58:03. > :58:04.
:58:04. > :58:08.of European Employers. Is essentially what you're doing in
:58:08. > :58:12.the report say it is special case needs to be made for rural
:58:12. > :58:15.communities and Scotland. We're saying rural Scotland is
:58:15. > :58:19.different to her and Scotland. Were not saying it should be privileged
:58:19. > :58:24.or so separate. We're simply saying it is different.
:58:24. > :58:26.Policies need to be tailored for those differences. This is
:58:26. > :58:35.particularly crucial and times of economic downturn and scarcer
:58:35. > :58:42.resources. Those resources need to be spent well and targeted well.
:58:42. > :58:49.One example is concerning the ability of young people to find
:58:49. > :58:51.jobs are much sought peace. There are initiatives another person
:58:51. > :58:57.Scotland were scooters were provided for young people in order
:58:57. > :59:01.for them to go to job interviews because the public transport
:59:01. > :59:05.infrastructure simply doesn't allow that. That is where local
:59:05. > :59:14.initiatives have stepped in because national policy frameworks are not
:59:14. > :59:18.sufficiently targeted to those Days you agree that there is a
:59:18. > :59:24.particular problem with rural communities gym yes, there is.
:59:24. > :59:29.have special problems, everyone needs a car, obviously. I think
:59:29. > :59:35.that most rural areas have a problem with employment, many
:59:35. > :59:42.people must go off to cities and so on. You can see that in Scotland
:59:42. > :59:48.but the 16-24-year-old seemed to go off to cities and made a comeback
:59:48. > :59:55.in their middle years to live in rural areas, but it certainly is a
:59:55. > :59:59.problem, particularly keeping young people. How do you fix it? You must
:59:59. > :00:04.learn from the experience of other people. In Belgium there is a
:00:04. > :00:10.scheme to encourage young people to set up businesses of their own.
:00:10. > :00:14.Wanly 4% of people under the age of 25 are self employed in Europe. It
:00:14. > :00:17.is slightly higher in Scotland, but very little is done for them. If
:00:17. > :00:24.you are in Spain you will get a lump sum from your unemployment
:00:24. > :00:27.benefit if you are not employed, in advance. In Italy, with the highest
:00:27. > :00:33.level of self-employment amongst young people, half of the
:00:33. > :00:38.population go on a special course to train you in entrepreneurship.
:00:38. > :00:41.Do you agree with that analysis, which is that what you want to do
:00:41. > :00:45.with youth unemployment is give young people the tools to set out
:00:45. > :00:51.on their own rather than depending on state spending in former public
:00:51. > :00:56.sector jobs? That is an important option, what is also important
:00:56. > :01:00.alongside that it, equally important, is the place based
:01:00. > :01:04.approach. Not only looking at it, but opportunities, but looking at
:01:04. > :01:08.affordable housing. We are seeing a growth in some rural areas. A
:01:08. > :01:13.growth in the need for housing and particularly for single occupancy
:01:13. > :01:19.household. That is not a typical housing provision in rural areas,
:01:19. > :01:25.housing for single people. Q also point out the number of second
:01:25. > :01:29.homes, holiday homes. What should be done about that? I believe there
:01:29. > :01:34.are debate in Government about council tax flexibility to allow
:01:34. > :01:38.for different charges for how long a property is vacant, whether it is
:01:38. > :01:41.furnished or unfurnished. I believe these discussions are ongoing.
:01:41. > :01:48.the Scottish Government should pro actively try and reduce that
:01:48. > :01:51.proportion of houses that are holiday homes? Which are unoccupied
:01:51. > :01:57.for large portions of the Keir, be they holiday homes or vacant homes
:01:57. > :02:00.that are simply unused. We need more housing, but we need the
:02:00. > :02:04.houses to have the infrastructure. So when you houses are built, the
:02:04. > :02:07.infrastructure must be built as well. There are vacant properties
:02:07. > :02:11.that already have that infrastructure, and they must be
:02:11. > :02:14.police so that young people can be housed. Businesses are tried to
:02:15. > :02:21.grow in the rural areas and cannot house the work force because there
:02:21. > :02:23.is no affordable housing. People might say that if community there
:02:23. > :02:29.unsustainable then they are unsustainable, people should move
:02:29. > :02:33.on and find jobs at light elsewhere for. They do. Only two-thirds of
:02:33. > :02:37.the population who get degrees in Scotland actually can find a job
:02:37. > :02:44.straight away. Many of them must move away. If Scotland has a very
:02:44. > :02:47.good educational system compared with much of Europe and the number
:02:47. > :02:53.of people in employment is higher in the north end of Scotland than
:02:53. > :02:57.anywhere else in Europe. Much of that is dependent on the oil and
:02:57. > :03:01.gas industry. In terms of local communities, how do they diversify
:03:01. > :03:11.so they are not dependent on the public sector or on the Private
:03:11. > :03:11.
:03:11. > :03:14.sector? 37% of people who live in rural areas are in small businesses.
:03:14. > :03:20.Small businesses they set up. There in the Private sector and have
:03:20. > :03:24.taken the initiative. The work in small companies. They are not
:03:24. > :03:29.entirely dependent. If you take Scotland as a whole, all in round
:03:29. > :03:36.23% of people in the public sector, people who have left their jobs
:03:36. > :03:42.tend to be in local Government. People who are getting through the
:03:42. > :03:49.educational system... Thank you very much. Sorry to Russia, we are