The Scotsman

Confidence Boost Hints That Worst of Recession Now Over

CONSUMER confidence has hit an 18-month high and small businesses are at their most optimistic for two and a half years, providing two of the strongest signals yet that the worst of the recession has passed. The public are feeling more secure about finances and job prospects, according to today's consumer confidence report compiled by British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielson.

Ikea Assembles Modest Sales Rise in 'Tough' Conditions

FLAT-PACK furniture giant Ikea has scraped out a modest rise in sales despite a "tough" economic backdrop. Results for the UK and Irish arm of the iconic Swedish firm reveal that turnover rose by 1.1 per cent to GBP 1.2 billion in the year to 31 August. The break-out figure follows the recent news that annual sales at the wider Ikea group grew 1.4 per cent to 21.5bn (GBP 19.2bn).

Pawnbrokers Lending Their Ears to Merger Talks to Create Gbp 230m Firm

BRITAIN'S two stock market-listed pawnbrokers are holding merger talks that could lead to the creation of a pawnbroking business valued at more than GBP 230 million, it was reported yesterday. Talks between Albemarle & Bond (A&B) and H&T are said to be at an early stage and no advisers have yet been appointed.

2 Per Cent Cut Needed in Public Spending to Tackle Debt

PUBLIC spending must be tightened by at least 2 per cent a year in real terms over the next five years to cope with the UK's deficit, according to an economic report published today. Accountancy firm Deloitte's latest economic review suggested that fiscal tightening worth at least 5 per cent of the UK's annual gross domestic product (GDP) - or about GBP 70 billion - will be needed to address the country's debt mountain.

Lift in Economy Encourages Scott to Eye More Expansion

SCOTT Group, the pallet maker and industrial components specialist, is back on the acquisition trail and eyeing "bolt-on" businesses worth as much as GBP 10 million. The new-found appetite for deals should help push the group closer to its medium-term target of achieving GBP 150 million in annual sales.

Builders Urge Vat Cut to Boost Spending On Home

HALF of Scottish homeowners would spend money on building work if VAT on home improvements was cut to 5 per cent, the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) claimed today. The SBF repeated its call for a targeted cut in VAT on home building works to support the construction industry.

Open Source Software Could Save Millions

SCOTLAND'S national and local governments could save up to GBP 300 million a year and stimulate the country's software developers if they switch from buying traditional packages to using open source software, an industry expert has claimed. Open source software can be rewritten by programmers and adapted for different uses, unlike traditional packages, which are usually covered by strict copyright rules.

In Brief: Manager Shake-Up in Line for Eurostar

EUROSTAR, the cross-Channel rail operator, is set to lose two non- executive directors as part of a shake-up of its management. Rob Holden, chief executive of the proposed Heathrow-to-Essex Crossrail project, and Adele Biss, the former chairman of the British Tourist Authority, are due to leave Eurostar early next year.

In Brief: Aegon Sale Adds to National's Turmoil

NATIONAL Express is facing further investor turmoil after it emerged that one of its main shareholders was selling most of its stake in the embattled transport group. Aegon, which had been the company's fourth-largest shareholder, is understood to have disposed of the bulk of its 3.5 per cent holding.

Cd of the Week: Dame Shirley Bassey: There Is Nothing Like a Dame

Shirley Bassey's first studio album for over 20 years has heart, soul and the timeless appeal of great songs DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY: THE PERFORMANCE ****

Cd Review: Classical, Jazz, Folk, World

Classical JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER: ROMANTIC CELLO CONCERTOS ****

Critic's Choice

Jimmy Webb & The Webb Brothers Queens Hall, Edinburgh, 6 November

Two More Drug Experts Quit in Row Over Sacked Professor

TWO experts have resigned in support of the government's chief drugs adviser - sacked for claiming cannabis is less harmful that alcohol. Dr Les King yesterday quit the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), saying Home Secretary Alan Johnson had denied Professor David Nutt's "freedom of expression".

'Joyless Box-Ticking' - Capital's New Buildings

ONE of Scotland's leading architects will this week lead an outspoken attack on the quality of new buildings being created and pursued in the capital over the last ten years. Malcolm Fraser will warn a "box-ticking" culture has already left the city saddled with a legacy of "joyless" architecture.

E-Mail Suggests Snp May Be Ready to Drop Manifesto Tax Pledge

SNP ministers may be considering a U-turn on one of the party's flagship policies from the 2007 election, according to papers which suggest civil servants are working on a new property tax. E-mails obtained by The Scotsman under freedom of information legislation suggest that finance secretary John Swinney's department may be looking at replacing the SNP's pledge of raising local tax through income with one based on property.

Employers Wary of Discriminating in Job Cuts Process

THE Chartered Institute for Personal Development analysis of unemployment figures suggests the recession is taking a heavier toll on men than on women. Since the recession started, the number of men unemployed has increased by almost 50 per cent, compared to an increase of 33 per cent for women.

Spirited Defence of Youth

Opening with a note of caution, the SYLA debate on exploitation of trainees was predictably fierce, says Christopher Mackie THE motion heard at the debate organised by the Scottish Young Lawyers Association (SYLA) was provocative and topical.

Legal Awards Set to Recognise Excellence in a New Landscape

Coping with a difficult market, winning in 2009 has been a boost for firms, writes Christopher Mackie IN MARCH, minutes after Pagan Osborne had been named firm of the year at the Legal Awards 2009, an emotional chief executive, Alistair Morris, explained how much the accolade meant.

Soldier Fights for Life After Being Shot in 'Live' Exercise in Falklands

A SCOTTISH soldier remained in a "very serious" condition last night after being shot during a live-fire exercise in the Falkland Islands. Two other soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland were also wounded in the incident.

Missoni Accomplished

AN ITALIAN fashion house has become the first recipient of a five- star rating for a major hotel in Scotland for four years, The Scotsman can reveal. Hotel Missoni has been given the official rating by VisitScotland just months after opening its doors on the site of former offices for the Scottish Parliament in the heart of Edinburgh.