The Scotsman

Comment: Difficult to Feel Contented On Just Gbp 95.25 a Week

WHAT planet is the psychologist on? The global credit crisis, stock market slump and plunging interest rates have passed him by if he believes today's over-55s are "likely to be travelling the world, happy and content". Many more, I suspect, are viewing the prospect of retirement with blind terror. For the record the full basic state pension for a single person is GBP 95.25 a week.

Boys 'Should Be Vaccinated' in Cervical Cancer Fight

DOCTORS have called for boys to be included in the vaccination programme to protect girls against cervical cancer. In Scotland, girls from around the age of 12 and 13 are now offered a vaccine to protect against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes the majority of cases of cervical cancer, with a catch- up campaign for older pupils.

New Calls for Bank Boss to Face Sack Over Hbos Deal

PRESSURE is mounting for the chief executive of Lloyds, Eric Daniels, to be sacked over his role in the takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland. Mr Daniels has faced calls to step down after doubts emerged over whether the takeover of the Edinburgh-based HBOS by Lloyds TSB had been fully justified.

Losing a Loved One in Middle Age Can Treble Risk of Developing Dementia

MIDDLE-AGED people who live alone may have double the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease in later life compared with those who are married or living with others, research has suggested. Being widowed or divorced in mid-life was linked to an even greater risk of dementia - three times higher, according to the study, published yesterday in the British Medical Journal.

Murphy Says New Deal Will Keep Clyde Working for Next 15 Years

AN AGREEMENT to be signed within weeks will help ensure defence work for the Clyde for the next 15 years, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has claimed. With fears over the future of two of the Clyde's last remaining shipbuilding yards, Mr Murphy announced yesterday that their futures may be secured with work on a new generation of frigates.

Councillor Who Failed to Dial 999 Over Fire Fears at School 'Just a Balloon'

THE head of a Scottish fire authority was branded a "balloon" yesterday after he tried to contact the firemaster on his mobile phone to report a suspicious smell at the secondary school where he is employed as a teacher. Councillor Mike Raeburn, who is the chairman of the Grampian Joint Fire and Rescue Board, was criticised by firefighters' union officials and opposition councillors for his failure to evacuate the school and to dial 999 at the height of the alert at Aberdeen's Northfield Acad...

Business Gazetteer

Doing the honours He's the new company doctor - and so is he

'No Kill' Birds of Prey to Rid Parliament of Pigeons

Picture: Phil Wilkinson BIRDS of prey have been brought in to scare away pigeons that have plagued the Scottish Parliament.

Maggots Find Forces Closure of Operating Theatres at Scots Hospital

ALL three operating theatres at one of Scotland's leading children's hospitals were closed yesterday because of an infestation of maggots. The theatres at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital were shut and operations cancelled after evidence of the infestation was discovered in two of the three theatres.

'New' Flu Resistant to Main Drug

JAPAN has confirmed its first case of a genetic mutation of the new H1N1 influenza that shows resistance to Tamiflu, the main antiviral flu drug, a health ministry official said. The patient, who was confirmed in May with the H1N1 strain of the flu in the Osaka province, has recovered since then and no cases of the new flu have been confirmed around the patient, Takeshi Enami, an official at the health ministry said.

War of Blame Over Whisky Jobs

SCOTTISH ministers were accused yesterday of "taking their eye off the ball" over the expected closure of the Johnnie Walker plant whisky plant with the loss of 700 jobs. As politicians from Labour and the SNP met drinks firm Diageo yesterday about the future of its Kilmarnock operation, a political storm blew up over who was to blame.

Capital Screen

ANDY Murray's semi-final match with Andy Roddick will be shown on a giant screen in Edinburgh city centre. The 25-square metre television in Festival Square, off Lothian Road, has already proved popular with sports fans. It was put up earlier this year in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

Cost of a Champion: Gbp 2.5m

THE cost of creating a Wimbledon champion was put at GBP 2.5 million yesterday. The figure was worked out by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), who looked at the cost of lessons, summer camps and academies.

Tickets to See a Dream Murray V Federer Final Could Be Most Expensive Ever

TICKETS for an Andy Murray v Roger Federer Wimbledon final could become the most expensive tickets ever sold for a UK sporting event. As black market briefs for Murray's semi-final against Andy Roddick were advertised for GBP 11,000, experts said a "dream final" between the Swiss world No 1 and the Scot could see prices rocket to a new high.

Deportation Reprieve for Skippers

SCOTTISH skippers have been granted a vital reprieve from the forced deportation of foreign fishermen working on their boats. An action plan, which will give Scotland's fishing fleets a breathing space to avoid critical crew shortages, has been agreed with the Home Office, following the intervention of Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Fisheries Secretary.

No Lisbon Vote Despite Changes

FOREIGN Secretary David Miliband said yesterday that proposed changes - granting Ireland opt-outs on abortion, tax and military neutrality - to the disputed Lisbon Treaty on greater European Union integration would not mean Britain must ratify it again. He denied that the concessions to Ireland were a "stitch-up" by other EU member states desperate to encourage the Irish people to drop their opposition to the treaty when they vote in a second referendum in October.

Mp Visits As St Kilda Battles for Jobs

A MSP will today visit the most remote part of his constituency, which has no full-time residents, for the first time. Alasdair Allan, who represents the Western Isles, will travel to St Kilda, around 40 miles off North Uist.

Straw Claims U-Turns Show Government Is Listening to the Public

A SENIOR Cabinet minister yesterday denied Gordon Brown's administration was losing the authority to govern after a series of reverses over the Royal Mail, ID cards and the clean-up of Westminster's expenses system. Justice Secretary Jack Straw insisted that U-turns on plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail and on forcing British citizens to carry identity cards were not a sign of weakness but proved the government was listening.

Watchdog to Quiz Osborne On Mortgage Claims ... But Not Darling

WESTMINSTER'S sleaze watchdog is to investigate a complaint that Tory shadow chancellor George Osborne overclaimed on his MP's allowances for his constituency home. John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, yesterday accepted a complaint made against Mr Osborne by a Labour activist in his Tatton constituency.

Feedback Sought On Revival Plan for Tourist Village

THE public is to be given a say in the development of John o' Groats. The latest plan will come under public scrutiny next week, when an exhibition is held detailing progress on a new masterplan for the attraction.