Finance Giant Chief Executive Resigns

The chief executive of Edinburgh-based Standard Life, one of Europe's largest mutual life and pensions insurance companies, dramatically resigned this week "with immediate effect". The company has been struggling with a number of issues, not least of which is whether to demutualise and float on the London Stock Exchange. And Standard Life has been locked in tough negotiations with the Financial Services Authority over new accounting rules. And like many insurance companies, it has suffered from the decline in stock market values and been forced to cut payouts on to investors. But there had been no hint that chief executive Iain Lumsden, who has been with the company for 36 years, was under any pressure to quit. The company has now announced that it is to carry out a "strategic review" of its business - and will consider demutualisation as "an option".

Father of House of Commons to Stand Down

Tam Dalyell, the Member of Parliament for Linlithgow and the longest serving member of the UK Parliament, is to stand down at the next election, bringing to an end a 43-year political career. His long service earns him the largely ceremonial title of "Father of the House of Commons." He gained a reputation as one of the most consistently rebellious MPs - he has been a vociferous critic of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and in the days when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, pursued her relentlessly over the sinking of the Argentinean battleship Belgrano during the Falklands war. He began as a Conservative supporter but served mainly as a Labour MP. His genealogical pedigree stretches back to the days of "Black Tam" Dalyell who was a scourge of the Covenanters. He lives in an ancestral home of The Binns which is in his constituency. He argued against a devolved parliament in Scotland and raised the "West Lothian Question" - what would happen when Scottish MPs voted on legislation which only affected England. This is an issue which is now coming home to roost.

Jobless Total Falls

The latest figures on the number of people unemployed in Scotland and receiving state benefits has fallen to 98,000 - the lowest figure since September 1975. The statistics also show that there are 129,000 more Scots in employment than at this time last year. More than 2,393,000 people have jobs in Scotland, an improvement of 0.5% on last year. Of course, more women are in work than ever before. Despite the positive aspects of these figures, the numbers employed in manufacturing continues to fall.

Mixed Fortunes on Job Front

There was gloom in Edinburgh this week when 700 staff employed by finance giant Abbey (that's their recently introduced "fuzzy" logo) were told that their jobs were to be axed. But Abbey are creating 650 new posts in Glasgow - though many of the staff in the capital will be unwilling to commute the 50 miles west. With a buoyant jobs market in Edinburgh, many will be able to find alternative employment there. But when deputy First Minister Jim Wallace expressed "delight" at Abbeys plans he was accused by those in Edinburgh of being "out of touch". Abbey are also believed to be looking at transferring their fund management business from Glasgow to the USA and these high-flying jobs will be hard to replace. It will make Glasgow's aim to create a financial services centre on the banks of the river Clyde more difficult. There was also further bad news on the Edinburgh jobs market where it has emerged that the Scottish Executive is setting up two new organisations to look after transport and the prison service, resulting in 500 jobs moving out of the city to alternative locations.

Bright Future Predicted for Scotland's Economy

The latest edition of the Bank of Scotland's Index of Leading Economic Indicators, published this week, is forecasting that Scotland's economy will continue to accelerate in the coming year. It also shows that there have been seven consecutive months of economic growth, helped by a number of factors. With interest rates still relatively low, consumers are encouraged to make purchases on credit and the housing market is still buoyant. There is also a healthy labour market with unemployment at a low level and numbers of employed rising.

A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland

The Scottish Executive has published an "action plan" designed to rid Scotland of the ills of smoking. It stops short of suggesting legislation banning smoking in public places but sets out a range of measures on prevention and education aimed at young people and key target groups. There will also be more support for those who wish to quit. In recent years there has been an increasing number of smoke-free areas in public places and most large indoor shopping malls have a no-smoking policy (hence the smoking booth, illustrated here, outside a large shopping mall). But only a small percentage of businesses in the food and entertainment sector have implemented restrictions on smoking and seven out of ten pubs in Scotland still allow smoking throughout their premises. It is estimated that tobacco kills 13,000 Scots a year, more than five times the total number killed by alcohol-related illness, illegal drugs and accidents combined.

Highway Robbery

Motoring organisations have condemned as a "stealth tax" a suggestion by the UK government to introduce a £5 surcharge on motorists caught exceeding the speed limit. The cash would be used to pay compensation to the victims of crime. More serious motoring offences, such as driving without insurance would incur a £10 surcharge. Motorists are already paying for the most expensive petrol in Europe due to high duty on fuel and the connection between motorists who exceed the speed limit and the victims of assaults and robberies is tenuous for most people.

Rail Chaos as Station Closes

All train travellers to and from Edinburgh this weekend face disruption due to the closure of Waverley station in the centre of the capital. New signalling equipment is being tested and implemented. Trains into the city will terminate at Haymarket (pictured here), with a bus service taking passengers the rest of the way. But disabled passengers who cannot climb a long flight of stairs, will have to make a long detour as there are no lifts from three of the four platforms at Haymarket. Legislation in recent years demands that proper facilities should be available for disabled customers but so far nothing has been done at Haymarket. Even passengers with heavy luggage have to heave their suitcases up the steep stairs to ground level.

It's Official - Scots, English and Welsh are "Ethnic"

In the past, when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) gathered statistics (such as the national census) on people's ethnic origins, those from India, Bangladesh, Africa and even Ireland had boxes to indicate their ethnic background. But there was no differentiation for Scots, Welsh and even English. Now, new guidelines have been issued for conducting official surveys and so these differences will be identified - though there will still be a box for "British" for those who prefer that designation. Surveys will now have two questions on people's backgrounds, one on ethnicity and one on nationality so that people can describe themselves, for example, as "Afro-Caribbean-Scottish" or "white Welsh".

Second Air Terminal for Glasgow

A £12 million second terminal building is being hurriedly completed by adapting an existing overspill facility at Glasgow airport to attract additional budget airline flights and meet the anticipated increase in passenger numbers. It is being created specifically for the low-cost carriers and easyJet, flyglobespan.com and My Travel are expected to be moving in to the new facility by the middle of this year. There will also be four new aircraft parking stands and a £1.8m hold baggage screening system. The new terminal will be connected to the existing one by a covered walkway. Glasgow is expecting to have an extra 90 flights a week this summer compared to last year. It already handles 8.1 million passengers a year. Although Glasgow is busier than Edinburgh airport, it has been growing in recent years at a slower rate than at the capital.

New Air Routes

A new direct air route between Edinburgh and Munich in Germany was announced this week. Duo already operates scheduled flights to Geneva, Milan, Oslo and Zurich using small Canadair R.Jet aircraft. The new route is the 17th to be supported by the Scottish Executive's £6.8 million Route Development Fund. Meanwhile, Croatia Airlines has announced that it will fly the first direct flights between Glasgow and the former Yugoslavia with a weekly service to the Adriatic port of Dubrovnik in the summer months. For a complete survey of all direct international flights to Scotland see International Air Services to Scotland.

Superfast Ferry on a Roll

Despite initial concerns that Scottish haulage companies were not using the new Rosyth to Zeebrugge (in Belgium) ferry service, Superfast Ferries now report that over the last year they have doubled the volume of freight being carried. More than 300 haulage firms are now using the service on a regular basis, saving on fuel and time. Lorry drivers are said to enjoy the overnight crossing which leaves Rosyth in the early evening. From the outset, passenger traffic has always been good but there were concerns at first that the lack of profitable cargo could eventually cause the service to be withdrawn.

Shifting Sandstone

While most of the red sandstone apartment blocks built in Scotland in the early part of the 20th century or even earlier were constructed from good quality stone, problems are starting to appear on some Victorian tenements and the sandstone is beginning to crumble. Owners are being confronted by massive repair bills which many, already paying large mortgages, just cannot afford to meet. Experts estimate that as many as 10% of the flats in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and other towns across Scotland could be at risk - and that could mean as many as 20,000 properties. The warning came after the owners of a five-storey block in Edinburgh's Bruntsfield area were told that they will be forced to pay for its crumbling stones to be replaced by the city council as they are a danger to people walking on the pavement below. They face bills of £50,000 each on property ranging in value from £150,000 to £300,000. Edinburgh is leading the way in dealing with dangerous buildings after an incident in the city when someone was killed by falling masonry in the city centre. Stone for many of the apartment blocks built in Edinburgh were sourced at Craigleith Quarry which proved to be very hard-wearing as it is 99% quartz. But stone can contain a high proportion of clay which can be adversely affected by decades of rain, pollution and freezing and thawing.

Theatre Ghost Staging a Return

A BBC Scotland TV documentary on the country's famous haunted buildings claims that while filming in a Glasgow theatre (which closed in 1938), the camera crew heard heavy breathing which seemed to move around when they did and got louder whenever they asked questions. The Panopticon on Trongate was recently featured in a TV series on preserving old buildings. As a result of the publicity, the theatre is to open later this month - for one performance as part of the Celtic Connections music festival. The theatre opened in 1858 as the Britannia Halls before being renamed Panopticon in 1906. The producers of the "Ghostbusters" programme have speculated that the ghost could be a disgruntled bit-part actor harbouring notions of performing a major role. Stan Laurel made his acting debut at the Panopticon in 1910 - and Cary Grant was later part of a troupe of tumblers at the theatre.

50-year Success Story

Conservationists and ornithologists will be celebrating a remarkable success story this year - the 50th anniversary of the return of ospreys to Scotland. These spectacular birds, which dive into lochs to catch fish, were wiped out by 1916. Then a lone pair of these raptors returned to Loch Garten near Aviemore in 1954. Although this was an act of nature, it took all the efforts of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Forestry Commission and Scottish Wildlife Trust to protect and nurture the nesting birds. 24-hour watches and closed-circuit television were used to protect the nests from egg collectors. Slowly, the numbers have increased and spread so that last year there were 160 breeding pairs. Ospreys migrate to west Africa in winter and there is always a sense of anticipation each year to see how many will return to breed. There are now nesting sites at Aberfoyle in the Trossachs, Glentrees Forest near Peebles, Loch of Lowes near Dunkeld as well as the original site at Loch Garten - which has been visited by nearly two million bird lovers over the last 50 years.

Amaryllis Withers

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay shocked the catering trade this week by closing down his award-winning Amaryllis restaurant in Glasgow. The high profile eatery opened in April 2001within the five star hotel One Devonshire Gardens, a favourite haunt of many in the entertainment industry including Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Elton John and Rod Stewart. The Amaryllis has three rosettes in the AA Hotel and Restaurant Awards and a coveted Michelin star. There was little explanation given for the sudden closure other than Ramsay "consolidating on London outlets".

Internet Castle Auction Fails to Find Buyer

There was world-wide publicity when Castle Lee was offered for sale on the Internet last September. The Web site declared that only the rich and famous need apply. Initially, those interested had to provide their name and details which were then to be vetted and checked to see if they had the resources to buy the property. The Lockhart family owned the estate for 700 years although today's castle is really a 19th century mansion. The property, with 261 acres and a baronial title, attracted a lot of interest but it also attracted many Walter Mitty characters who had fanciful dreams but no cash to back it up. An offer of £7 million came from a man who claimed to be an American businessman with a personal fortune of £80 million. He provided bank statements and letters of credit but as negotiations were reaching a conclusion it turned out he lived in a modest house in California worth around £90,000. Another prospective purchaser claimed to own a French chateau but lived in a two-bedroom flat in Ohio.

Slimming Down the Police Force

In popular literature and entertainment shows, from PC Murdoch in "Oor Wullie" cartoons to the recent "Fast Show" on TV, police officers are often portrayed as plodding and being somewhat overweight. But now Lothian and Borders Police are taking steps to make sure that in reality they have slimmer, fitter constables on the "thin blue line". In a move which is believed to be the first by any UK police authority, calorie-controlled weight-watcher diets are being introduced to the staff restaurant at police HQ at Fettes Row. The initiative has been set up after it was revealed that an alarming number of officers quit early on grounds of ill health - though there are also other factors involved. But an increasing amount of time spent on desk duties and in patrol cars contributes to poor health amongst some police officers.

Seasonal Gimmicks Help Garden Centre Sales

There are not many folk buying plants for their garden in December but garden centres still generate a high level of turnover in the run-up to Christmas with sales of decorations and outdoor lights. The latter are becoming very popular in Scotland, with trees and bushes festooned with twinkling lights in many suburban gardens. Dobbie's the Edinburgh based garden centre chain has reported that its sales in the nine weeks to 29 December increased by 17.1% over last year, helped by a TV advertising campaign and gimmicks such as Santa Claus arriving at their premises by helicopter - and classes on how to decorate a Christmas tree. The company now has 18 sites across Scotland and the north of England.

Bloom or Bust?

The scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh are reporting that plants in their garden are responding to warmer than usual weather by flowering much earlier than usual. They point to the Chinese witch hazel - Hamamelis Mollis - which has been in flower for the last three months and should only have been producing its oddly shaped petals in December. Spring flowering aconites are already in bloom and rhododendrons are also flowering - and it's only January. 2003 was the hottest, driest and sunniest since records began and five months of the year were "exceptionally warm" measuring at least 2C above average - and the plants are responding. For only the fourth time in recorded history, all the snow completely melted on Scotland's mountains - even in north-facing corries. While the warmer temperatures are a boon to fruit growers and are producing more flowers in the winter months, the biologists also warn that the milder climate could increase the amount of disease amongst the plants. And any late frosts could damage flowers which are too far ahead of their normal season.

Weather in Scotland This Week

An unexpected fall of snow overnight between Monday and Tuesday created treacherous driving conditions for many commuters in central Scotland. Although the snow did not last for long, it caused a five-vehicle pile-up on the A77 road between Glasgow and Kilmarnock and the M90 south of Kinross was closed for a time when two lorries got stuck. Temperatures remained low for most of the week, hovering around 4/6C (39/43F). The west also saw a lot of rain this week - Glasgow had over two inches falling between Sunday and Tuesday. Friday proved to be the only really sunny day during the week - nearly five hours of sunshine were recorded in the west.

It's not just in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh that they are experiencing plants coming into bloom early. The rhodendron below, admittedly an early flowering variety, seems to be enjoying the one and only sunny day experienced in Glasgow's Botanic Garden at Kelvingrove this week.

Wallace to be Laid to Rest - at Last

Although no remains of William Wallace exist, author David Ross is planning to embark on a 450-mile pilgrimage to London to mark the 700th anniversary of the execution of William Wallace on August 23, 2005. The historic church which stands next to where he was executed in Smithfield, London, has been booked for a service and a coffin has been commissioned. After the service, it is planned to bring the casket back to St Kentigern's Church in Lanark for burial. After his fight to free Scotland from English occupation, Wallace was captured and found guilty of "treason" in a trial in London. He was hung, drawn and quartered and never received a burial.

Tartan's Debt to Mexican Beetles

Researchers at the National Museum of Scotland have been investigating the vibrant colours of the tartans used in kilts, some of which go back as far as the 16th century. They have discovered that the dyes originated in India and North and South America. Previously, historians had thought that the colours were made from indigenous Scottish sources. The red dye in a kilt worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 18th century was cochineal, extracted from a Mexican beatle. Tests on other ancient tartan samples show that yellows were often from tree bark originating in North America and the West Indies and indigo from India. Many of the dyes would have been imported via Rotterdam in Holland which was an important trading partner of the Scots.

Oldest Car Manufacturing Plant Back on the Road

A 19th century brick-built building on the waterfront at Leith is reputed to be the world's oldest surviving car manufacturing plant. The owners are planning to redevelop the building into integrated homes-come-offices with office space on the ground floor and apartments above. The factory was originally created in 1896 to manufacture Madelvic electric vehicles, invented by an Edinburgh astronomer William Peck. His battery-electric carriages were used for public transport between Leith and Granton, further along the Firth of Forth coastline.

Like Father, Like Son

An expert in Robert Burns, speaking at an international conference on the poet in Glasgow, has provided some fascinating insights into the rakish life of the Burns' son Bobby. Robert Burns is infamous for the number of illegitimate children he fathered but his eldest son produced even more children out of wedlock than his father. In addition to being legally married, Bobby Burns also had two common-law wives. The young Burns had an undistinguished career in the Stamp Office in London but his fondness for gambling and women caused his mother a lot of heart-ache. When Jean Armour died, she cut Bobby out of her will even though she knew the extent of his debts.

Landmark Building Repairs Start - At Last

The steeple of Renfrew Town Hall has been surrounded by scaffolding for some considerable time but at last the go-ahead has been given for the £350,000 repairs to the landmark in the centre of the town. The steeple was built in 1872 to replace an earlier town hall on the site which dated from 1670.

Next Week in History

• January 19 1644 - A Scottish army under the Earl of Leven crossed the river Tweed into England. It remained in England for three years playing an important part in the Civil War. January 19 1736 - Birth of James Watt, mathematical instrument maker, developed the steam engine, invented the condenser and copying machine.
• January 20 1936 - King George V died and was succeeded by King Edward VIII who abdicated 325 days later in order to marry Mrs Simpson).
• January 20 1937 - Benny Lynch crowned world flyweight champion.
• January 21 1290 - Sweetheart Abbey, near Dumfries, founded by Devorguilla, mother of John Balliol.
• January 22 1570 - James Stewart, the Regent Moray on the abdication of Mary Queen of Scots, murdered in Linlithgow, triggering civil war.
• January 22 1689 - William of Orange and Mary become joint sovereigns of the UK.
• January 22 1788 - Robert Byron (later Lord Byron) born. He moved to Aberdeen at the age of four and attended Aberdeen Grammar School.
• January 24 76 - Birth of Publius Aelius Hadrianus, who built Hadrian's Wall to cut off Scotland from the rest of Britain.
• January 24 1890 - First train over Forth Rail Bridge.

Global Marketing for Edinburgh's Hogmanay

Despite the cancellation of the Hogmanay street party and the pop concert in Princes Street Gardens on New Year's Eve, due to storm-force winds, the city council and other agencies are planning a major promotional drive for the event on Hogmanay 2004. Special arrangements in the event of bad weather are being planed, including holding the fireworks display on New Year's Day, if 31 December is ruled out. Unique Events, the company in charge of the organisation of Edinburgh's Hogmanay festivities, has been awarded the contract to continue in that role for another three years.

Celtic Connections

The annual music festival Celtic Connections got underway in Glasgow this week with a torchlit parade through the streets of the city, culminating at the Royal Concert Hall. The venue is the hub for nine venues across Glasgow hosting Celtic music from around the world. There will be over 300 events this year featuring big names such as Joan Baez, Bob Geldof, Shane McGowan and Liz Lochead. Musicians from Brittany, Ireland, Galicia, Asturias as well as the cream of Scotland's folk music scene will also be performing.

Grant for Burns Heritage Park

As the celebrations for the anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet approaches, the Minister for Tourism and Culture has announced that the government is to provide a funding package for the Burns National Heritage Park amounting to £115,000. The Park provides visitors with an insight into the life of one of Scotland’s great global cultural icons and incorporates the cottage where he was born, the Burns monument and a visitor centre with a presentation of the epic poem "Tam o' Shanter". The Executive will be considering in the coming months how best to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth. This falls in 2009, and the aim is not only to mark the event but also encourage Scots to return to Scotland.

Michelle's Record Breaks Records

The winner of the recent "Pop Idol" talent contest, Michelle McManus from Coatbridge, became the first Scots female to go straight into the top of the pop charts with her debut single. 150,000 copies of her album were sold last week, knocking the previous #1 off the top of the charts, outselling it by more than five to one and outselling records by Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Around a third of Michelle's sales were in Scotland.

Bank of Scotland Premier League Results - 17 January 2004

Dundee United 3 Aberdeen 2
Kilmarnock 1 Dunfermline 1
Livingston 1 Hibernian 0
Partick Thistle 1 Dundee 2
Rangers 1 Motherwell 0
Hearts v Celtic will be played on Sunday

Scottish First Division Results - 17 January 2004

Brechin 2 St Mirren 0
Falkirk 2 Ross County 0
Inverness 2 Ayr United 1
Queen of the South 1 Raith Rovers 1
Clyde v St Johnstone was postponed

BT Scotland Rugby Division 1 Results - 17 January 2004

Aberdeen 12 Heriots 23
Hawick 21 Ayr 13
Peebles 15 Currie 15
Stirling County 3 Glasgow Hawks 27
Glasgow Hutchesons' v Boroughmuir was postponed

League Tables

Celtic's lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League is currently 8 points but Celtic have played one fewer game. Hearts, in third position, are 14 points behind Rangers. At the foot of the SPL, Partick Thistle are 10 points behind Aberdeen.

In the First Division, Clyde are just ahead with 40 points, followed by Inverness with 39 points. Queen of the South are 4 points behind Inverness. At the foot of the First Division, Brechin have 13 points, three points behind Ayr United.

In the BT Scotland Rugby Division 1, Glasgow Hawks have extended their lead at the top to 18 points. Watsonians are in second place with Aberdeen two points behind. But Boroughmuir, a further two pints adrift, have three games in hand and could regain second top position if they win these.

"Don't Go Bankrupt"

As if the problems of going into administration were not big enough, the Scottish Premier League management are planning to apply a 15-point penalty on any club which becomes insolvent. The new rules will not apply to Dundee (which went into the hands of the accountants towards the end of last year) as any attempt to introduce such a new rule half-way through the season is not only unfair but is unworkable. The recommendation is still to be approved, but it is likely to be in place for the start of next season. For many clubs in the SPL, a 15 point penalty would mean automatic relegation to the First Division.

Scotland Move Up in the World

The latest FIFA world rankings show that Scotland's football (soccer) team has moved up slightly to 51st (from 54th), which is small consolation for failing to reach the Euro2004 play-offs in Portugal. Scotland is now on the same ranking as the west African state of Mali and behind Zimbabwe, Slovakia and Israel. The USA football team is still 11th in the world rankings, only slightly behind England (8th) but ahead of Germany (12th). Northern Ireland have also improved their position on the ranking - moving up to 124th.

Where Will Larsson Go?

Celtic's leading goal scorer, Henrik Larsson, has made it quite clear that he will be leaving the club at the end of his contract at the end of this season. But media speculation is rising about where the Swede will move to. Although aged 32, he still has a contribution to make to any top-class side and clubs like Barcelona, Valencia, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been suggested. Meantime, back in Sweden, 80,000 fans have signed a petition urging Larsson to play for his country again after he had announced that he was quitting the national team. Sir Bobby Robson was reported in the press to have given up on signing the player for Newcastle because a deal was "cut and dried" - probably with Barcelona. Larsson commented "It's incredible that someone other than myself knows more about my future than I do." But football agents make their money from doing transfer deals and signing players so there will no doubt be a lot of them beavering away to try to get a piece of the action. Fortunately, Larsson has proved to be sensible and intelligent both off the field as well as on it, so he will take his time to decide.

Hearts Under Siege

The annual general meeting of Hearts Football Club proved to be not such a stormy affair this week as had been expected. The directors tried to convince 1,000 fans who crowded into the meeting that the club should leave their ground at Tynecastle, probably to play at the national rugby stadium at Murrayfield, also in Edinburgh. Such a move away from Heart's traditional ground is not supported by many fans for emotional reasons and many expressed their disappointment at the proposal. But the board believe that the present ground is too small, corporate entertainment facilities are non-existent and the main stand is rusting away. And the club is £17 million in debt. The directors suggest that if Hearts do not move from Tynecastle it will eventually go out of business. Club manager Craig Levein gave support to the move to Murrayfield, commenting that the facilities at Murrayfield were second to none while Tynecastle was in an appalling condition. Levein has suggested "testing the water" by staging a match at Murrayfield to let supporters see what the ground is like, compared to their present location (half a mile away).

£1 Million Upgrade for Ski Centre

Unfazed by predictions of declining winter snow falls, the Lecht Ski Centre, which straddles the boundary between Moray and Aberdeenshire, has announced a major upgrade of facilities with an investment of over £1 million in new buildings. The centre is often the only snow sports facility able to operate in Scotland at certain times of the year as it is sheltered from prevailing winds and has snow-making machinery to complete runs in the absence of natural snow. It also attracts visitors in the summer