The Scotsman

Don't Be Fooled by the Big 'Back Office' Myth

A LINE must now surely be drawn and an end declared to one of the most dangerous organisational myths of our age: that all problems can be solved by axing, or scaling down so-called "back office" functions. To the lengthening list of organisations that have succumbed to this folly was added this week the BBC.

Reviews: Various: Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set: Reggae Rocks the Fab Four

POP Various: Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set Trojan/Sanctuary GBP 12.99 THE SYSTEMATIC re-issuing of the legendary Jamaican label Trojan Records' rich back catalogue in a series of themed box sets is one of the greatest things to happen to the compact disc in its 20-year history. One could argue that the Trojan archive of scratchy old ska and reggae classics is best experienced on its original vinyl, but those who don't have the time and inclination to scour the nation's record fairs can rejo...

'World Sees Scots As Philistines'

BRITAIN'S leading composer, James MacMillan, told a national television audience last night that Scotland is increasingly perceived by foreigners as a "philistine country". His comments came on the BBC's new flagship arts programme, The Culture Show, which saw Mr MacMillan swapping barbed comments with Patricia Fergusson, Scotland's culture minister, over the treatment of Scottish Opera.

Rates Burden Weighs Most Heavily On Edinburgh Business

EDINBURGH Chamber of Commerce (ECC) yesterday hit out at the Scottish Executive's failure to reduce the business rates burden, accusing finance minister Tom McCabe of putting businesses in the capital in an increasingly untenable position. According to Bill Furness, ECC's chief executive, Edinburgh already makes a net business rates loss of GBP 40 million a year to subsidise poorer parts of the country.

Sweet Solitude On a Holiday Far From the Madding Crowd

IF THIS column were ever to take the form of one of those irritating self-help books that feel the need for more than one title in order to get their point across, this week's installment would be called Holidaying Alone, or How To Make A Bottle of Champagne Last A Week. Before I go any further, I should put this into perspective. We're not talking some grand, Victorian-style tour of the globe here. Observant readers may remember that I was indeed planning such a trip earlier in the year, but...

Face Values: Walk Like an Egyptian On the Road to Firmer Skin

THE things I do for this column... Paper pants and sadist waxers I can accept, but last week topped the bill. I was mummified. The idea was to road-test a firming facial, which can be very useful at this time of year. Whether you want a boost before the party season or a recovery afterwards, they're a great idea.

Sketch: Kinnock Quick Off Mark As Ssp Tries to Break Sound Barrier

A PLEASANT change for Neil Kinnock. He took a seat in a parliament and people were pleased to see him. Some even applauded. If only they had done the same when he made his recent rabbit-in- the- headlights appearance on Have I Got News For You. But in the Scottish Parliament yesterday - no panic, it was a seat in the VIP gallery - the chairman of the British Council didn't have to wrestle with an autocue, an activity he might have had more success with than trying to read it, or with the unwe...

Jodi Accused 'Fine' As Body Found

THE sister of Jodi Jones described yesterday how Luke Mitchell remained "fine" while others around him broke down as the teenager's body was discovered. Janine Jones said she and Mitchell were part of a group searching a country path by torchlight for missing Jodi when he shouted that he had found something. Others went over a wall and came back shocked and shaking, Ms Jones, 19, told a jury. Mitchell looked and sounded fine.

False Alarm Cost Lives of 4 Airmen

THE bodies of four Royal Navy aircraft crew whose helicopter crashed during a search-and-rescue operation triggered by a false alarm were found at the bottom of the sea yesterday. Navy divers equipped with underwater cameras made the discovery yesterday after debris of the wrecked Lynx helicopter was spotted floating off the Cornish coast.

Scots Pupils Excel in International Learning League

SCOTTISH school pupils are outperforming their counterparts in countries such as the United States, Spain and Italy, according to research published yesterday. A study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that 15-year-olds in Scotland are achieving excellent results in mathematics, reading and science.

Black Watch Begin Their Journey Home From Iraq

THE Black Watch will today begin the journey home from Iraq to the UK after their controversial tour of duty in the so-called Triangle of Death near Baghdad. About 200 troops will board a flight tonight and are due to arrive in Britain early tomorrow morning. Two further flights on Sunday and Monday will bring back the rest of the 600-strong regiment in time for Christmas, as promised by Tony Blair, the Prime Minister.

Legionnaire's Disease Scare Shuts Showers at Sports Hall

AN INVESTIGATION into an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease has been launched at a Scottish university after the discovery of the bacteria that cause the disease in the showers at a sports hall. The shower area in Dundee University's sports union has been sealed off to students, and the British Universities' amateur boxing championships, which were due to be held there this weekend, have been moved to the city's Bonar Hall.

Macshane Says Joining the Euro Would Be 'Irrelevant'

DENIS MacShane, the outspoken Europe minister, was embroiled in a fresh row last night after he dismissed British membership of the euro as "economically irrelevant". The Conservatives seized on his remark, which came less than a week after The Scotsman revealed that Mr MacShane told a private meeting the government's five tests of the economic case for joining the single currency were "a giant red herring".

Legal Battles Threatened As Vote On Congestion Charge Goes Ahead

EDINBURGH'S residents are to decide the fate of the city's congestion charging plans. Councillors agreed by a single vote to hold a referendum on the issue.

Tragic Trend Makes Toll Highest in 10 Years

MORE people have died on railway level crossings in 2004 than any year in the past decade. As drivers continue to ignore road rules, safety experts say crossings pose "the greatest potential for catastrophic risk". The UK has one of Europe's best records, but this week in Porthmadog, Wales, a train hit a lorry, injuring the vehicle's driver and three train passengers. And in the space of a month, nine have died in two collisions, including the first level-crossing accident in 18 years to caus...

Reviews: Rsno

MUSIC RSNO **** GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL ON ITS own, last night's concert by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra would have been simply a cheery pre-Christmas affair, complete with Tchaikovsky ballet music, Prokofiev's ever-popular suite Lieutenant Kije and one of Mozart's most endearing piano concertos.

Husband Found Guilty of Murder Bid by Fireworks

A BUSINESSMAN was convicted yesterday of attempting to murder his wife by trapping her in a Highland cottage and setting a box of giant fireworks ablaze. Bryan Donaldson was found guilty of the bizarre murder bid following a seven-day trial. Donaldson, 56, hatched the plot to kill his wife Margaret, 57, and get his hands on her GBP 100,000 life insurance policy after she discovered he was having an affair with a woman less than half his age.

Retailers Offer a Creche for Weary Men As Festive Shopping Enters Rush Period

IT IS the perfect solution for the man who would rather not shop until he drops this Christmas. Not only can women abandon their children to get on with their shopping in peace, but now they can dump their husbands or boyfriends as well. Marks & Spencer have devised a creche for the reluctant retail male.

Food Rating Scheme Back in Business

SCOTLAND'S national food grading scheme, which collapsed when Taste of Scotland went into liquidation 15 months ago, will be relaunched in the new year with a new name and rating system. Restaurateurs will pay about GBP 200 to be assessed by the new scheme, run on behalf of the tourism agency VisitScotland. Establishments will pass or fail entry into a new directory, giving tourists a one-stop guide to high-quality places to eat and drink. Only the very best entries will be accorded special s...

Reviews: The Christmas Quangle Wangle

THEATRE THE CHRISTMAS QUANGLE WANGLE TRAVERSE THEATRE, EDINBURGH LICKETYSPIT'S Virginia Radcliffe has given Edward Lear's epic poem about the Quangle Wangle Quee a Christmas twist, as reluctant heroes Stella and Stan unwrap mysterious parcels to find the stories of the Quangle Wangle and of the Jumblies, along with all the rough- and-ready props they need to tell the tale.