The Scotsman

Clyde Jobs Warning As Defence Giant Faces Bribery Case

MAJOR defence contracts for Scottish firms could be threatened by the decision to seek to prosecute the UK's biggest arms company over bribery allegations. Politicians have warned that the Serious Fraud Office's decision to pursue charges against BAE may impact on jobs on the Clyde.

Tories Plot 'Operation Get Alistair Darling' in His Own Backyard

The Chancellor's Edinburgh South West seat is one of four on the Conservatives' wish list, finds David Maddox ALISTAIR Darling appears to have become the Conservatives' target for biggest scalp in the general election next year.

Swine Flu Claims Tenth Scots Victim As Experts Predict Winter Increase

THE swine flu virus claimed a tenth Scottish victim last night as official figures revealed that the number of cases in Scotland has doubled to 13,800 over the past week. The Scottish Government confirmed a 62-year-old woman from Forth Valley had become the latest patient to die after contracting the virus at the end of a week that saw the most dramatic rise in cases since the UK outbreak began in April.

Sturgeon Defiant in Schools Cash Attack

NICOLA Sturgeon refused to say if the SNP's Scottish Futures Trust would provide any cash for Scotland's crumbling schools when she stood in for Alex Salmond at First Minister's Questions yesterday. The Deputy First Minister failed to answer questions on whether the flagship trust would provide money for education after the SNP was accused of creating an "inordinate delay" in building schools.

New Year Homecoming for Glasgow Boys

OVER a century ago a Chicago art dealer with a passion for the Glasgow Boys group of artists gathered more than 100 of their paintings to be shown at a grand exhibition in St Louis, Missouri. Now several "lost" paintings from that vast collection are to be seen in Scotland for the first time, The Scotsman has learned. The works will be returned for next year's milestone Glasgow Boys exhibition.

Lofty Issue

A FREE insulation scheme for all could be one of the surprise features of next year's budget after the Scottish Government agreed to an all-party meeting on the issue. The proposal by the Greens, originally costed at GBP 1 billion over ten years, brought down last year's budget and was eventually replaced by a means-tested GBP 15 million scheme which has failed to insulate any homes so far.

Soldiers Survive 30ft Plunge From Bridge

TWO soldiers escaped with minor injuries after their vehicle crashed through a bridge parapet and plunged 30ft into a river in the Highlands. The members of 29 Commando, Royal Artillery, were travelling to a major military exercise in Cape Wrath in the far north of Scotland when the accident happened at Laxford Bridge in Sutherland.

Moves to Allow Non-Lawyers to Run Law Firms Welcomed

LEGISLATION allowing non-lawyers to run law firms has been welcomed by professionals and consumer organisations, despite uncertainty over regulation of the new structures. The Legal Services Bill, published yesterday, will remove rules that state firms must be wholly owned by solicitors and permit outside investment from organisations such as supermarkets and banks.

Cracks Begin to Show As Festive Ice Rink Boss Slides Gbp 100k Into the Red

A VETERAN Fringe promoter may be forced to quit running the flagship festive ice rink she created in Edinburgh city centre after claims she owes the city council over GBP 100,000. Karen Koren, who launched the hugely popular Winter Wonderland in East Princes Street Gardens in 1998, is thought to have lost huge sums of money over the venture in the last two years.

Legal Challenge Delays Gbp 27m Asda Store by at Least a Year

SUPERMARKET giant Asda willsubmit a new detailed application for a proposed store in Inverness in response to a legal challenge by another developer. In July ministers approved a GBP 27 million development in the Highland capital which Asda hoped to complete next year, creating 400 jobs.

Last Chance to Join Stars and Walk the Walk for Charity

TIME is running out for walkers hoping to rub shoulders with pop stars, sporting heroes and politicians. Slots close today for The Miles for Smiles 500 Miles Challenge charity fundraising event, a one-mile stroll through Edinburgh city centre.

In Brief: Body of British Hiker Identified in Turkey

A MAN'S body found in Turkey has been formally identified as that of a missing British hiker. John Kirkham, 67, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, disappeared near the resort of Olu Deniz in August.

Number of Private School Pupils Rises Despite Recession

PUPIL numbers at private schools are rising slightly despite fears of an exodus caused by the recession. A survey of 155 private schools represented by the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) found 118,389 pupils registered this year across the UK, compared to 117,840 in September last year - a rise of 0.5 per cent.

Sketch: One Needs Maths Lessons, the Other has Lost the Answers

IT WAS ladies' day in Holyrood yesterday - like Ascot but without the hats. The absence of Big Eck and the Gray man, both at the funeral of the trade unionist Bill Speirs, meant their deputies got to take the floor for the clash of the week.

Murderers Win Human Rights Payouts Over Solitary

THE Scottish Government is to pay GBP 2,100 to notorious prisoners who claimed that periods of solitary confinement breached their human rights. The payments have been agreed in out-of-court settlements in four test cases. Another 16 actions are expected to be settled on similar terms.

Gbp 800,000 for Children's Home Sex Abuse Victims

Twenty people assaulted at council-run institution to receive compensation VICTIMS of child abuse at a Scottish council-run residential home are to receive GBP 20,000 each and an apology from the local authority.

Law Change 'Costs Bars and Restaurants Gbp 100m Tip'

NEW laws now make it illegal for bars and restaurants to use tips to make up minimum pay for employees. The government said the change would promote "fairness" for staff, despite claims it will cost the hospitality industry an estimated GBP 100 million and thousands of jobs.

Angry Scenes Fail to Halt Trump Purchases

THEY came seeking protection from the threat of being thrown out of their homes by Donald Trump's golf development. But the "intolerable psychological torture" of four families is set to continue after Aberdeenshire council last night failed to lift the threat of compulsory purchase orders being used to acquire their homes.

A Woman for a Crisis

Retired doctor Libby Wilson, 83, was arrested by Surrey police on Monday on suspicion of assisting in a suicide. After being bailed, she returned home to Glasgow where Stephen McGinty caught up with her WHEN they banged up Dr Libby Wilson in the cells on Monday morning, they took her shoelaces, just in case she tried to take her own life. On one level this is deeply ironic, because she had been arrested by Surrey Police on suspicion of assisting in the suicide of a woman called Cari Loder, wh...

Leader: Stand-Off with Reputation of Britain at Stake

ACTING corruptly to obtain business is one of the most serious charges that can be levelled against a company. In the case of BAE Systems the company does not come much bigger. And its connections with the UK government are long and extensive. It is Britain's largest manufacturer - making everything from British Army kit to warships and planes. It has about 105,000 employees worldwide, including around 32,000 in the UK. It has customers in more than 100 countries. Allegations of corruption ha...