Scots Oppose New European Constitution

For a country which doesn't even have a proper written constitution, there has been a lot of debate in recent months in the UK about the adoption of a new European-wide constitution. This is being slowly agreed by heads of state and their experts and should be finalised by the summer. Of course, there are some who have strong views (both for and against) about the draft so far published. But until last week the man in the street has not had to understand the fine print - after all, the elected politicians would decide, wouldn't they? But that was until Tony Blair performed a spectacular U-turn recently and announced that the UK voters were to be asked in a referendum to vote for or against. Whether Mr and Mrs Everybody will understand the pros and cons of the weighty document is unlikely - but the pundits and the political parties will loudly proclaim their own views and influence the result. Already the opinion polls are suggesting that voters in Scotland are more opposed than anywhere else in the UK to the European constitution - 71% reject it and want to keep the status quo and only 18% of Scots would vote in favour. In Ireland, on the other hand, 92% believe that the new constitution is essential and opinion polls in other European countries planning to hold a referendum are all currently in favour.

Scottish Parliament "Overstaffed"

While the actual figures may have come as a shock, most people in Scotland always thought that the Scottish Executive were overstaffed. But the figures published this week by accountants and business advisers Deloitte & Touche show that the Scottish Parliament has the highest number per head of population and per elected member of any of the parliaments surveyed across the western world. The survey looked at parliaments from Europe to Australasia and found that the Scottish Parliament employed more staff than countries which were larger and were fully independent nation states. The numbers do not include the Members of the Scottish Parliament and their researchers or those working on the Holyrood parliament building project. There are 460 members of staff costing between £12 million and £15 million. 44 members of staff work on the official report of proceedings - even though parliament only meets on three days a week. The UK parliament employs 80 staff on this task - and produces three times the output. Comparisons with comparable institutions such as Catalonia produce even more shocking figures. The Catalan parliament serves a population larger than Scotland, has 135 members of parliament but employs just 195 staff. Staff numbers in Scotland have risen dramatically since 1998 - initial estimates predicted 240.

Economy Shows "Modest Growth"

The Scottish economy has continued to show modest growth and the prospects for this year and next are good, according to Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace. The GDP 2003 quarter 4 figures published this week show that Scottish GDP rose by 1.7 per cent over 2003. But as usual, GDP in the UK as a whole rose even faster - 1.8 per cent over the same period. The latest manufacturing estimates - with growth in the sector over the last two quarters - indicate that the sector is starting to recover after a sustained period of difficult trading conditions. Independent forecasters are indicating that the outlook for this year and next is also positive. For those readers who enjoy economic data, the figures are available at www.scotland.gov.uk/gdp.

Glasgow to Pilot Identity Card Scheme

The UK government is moving towards introducing a national identity card scheme and Glasgow is to be one of the areas where a pilot will be set up. Volunteers are being sought to have "biometric" details recorded with facial scans, iris scans and fingerprints. At this stage, the government is unsure which method will produce the best results. Advocates of the scheme argue that ID cards will not only help to combat terrorism but will also assist in combating fraud, including dishonest claims for public support grants. Opponents say that ID cards which are in use in a number of European countries make little difference in combating terrorism. Instead of introducing expensive ID cards, they argue that the cash should be spent on recruiting more police to patrol the streets. But by 2013, it is expected that 80% of the population will hold either a passport or driving licence with biometric identities embedded in them and at that time the government will decide whether to make ID cards compulsory.

Slight Rise in Scotland's Population

Forecasts that Scotland's population was in steady decline were confounded this week when the Registrar General for Scotland published the latest estimates. They showed an increase of 2,600 over the last 12 months, rising to a total of 5,057,400. The main change seems to have been growth in immigration. But deaths outstripped births by 6,500, with the number of births at the lowest level since records began nearly 150 years ago. The Scottish Executive is keen to attract qualified immigrants to work in Scotland and is aiming for 8,000 a year for the next five years to arrest the decline in population.

Glass Roof for Rose Street?

Edinburgh City Council has unveiled radical new plans for the city centre which could see a glass roof over Rose Street, which runs parallel to the main shopping area on Princes Street. The council's latest proposals have shelved the idea of building an underground shopping mall along Princes Street Gardens. But vehicles would be banned from George Street and offices around St Andrew Square would be developed into major new retail outlets. Other priorities for the council's vision for the future include replacing the ugly Scottish Office building beside the St James Centre shopping mall and creating more shops on top of Waverley Station. The glass roof for Rose Street would mirror the glass-covered Princes Square in Glasgow which has been highly successful. Rose Street, however, is currently populated with small boutique shops and a large number of bars.

Healthy Options for School Lunch Menus

Out go burgers, pizzas, fried fish, minced beef and spaghetti hoops and in come cottage pie with broccoli, cauliflower crunch and baby jacket potatoes, Polynesian chicken salad and spicy chicken pitta pockets or fajitas. And chips (French fries) will only be seen once a week. It's the new healthy option lunch-time menus which have been introduced into all 197 Glasgow primary (5-12) schools. The menus will change each day and each one will not be repeated for at least two weeks. Drinks will be a choice of milk or fruit juice and fresh fruit will be available. The new menus are being accompanied by classroom education on healthy diets. In 2001 Glasgow City Council launched Fruit Plus under which every child between 3 and 12 is given fresh fruit every day during term time.

Call to End Lawyer Property Cartel

It is a feature of buying and selling houses in Edinburgh and surrounding area that estate agents are involved in only 10% of the transactions. The other 90% is handled by the local lawyers who set up the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) many years ago to provide a "one stop shop" combining the legal conveyancing of property (on which they have a virtual monopoly) and the estate agency element. This proved to be very successful, initially because they charged lower fees than conventional estate agents and eventually because the ESPC provided an efficient service, with a free weekly listing of all the properties available. By the time the estate agents woke up to what was happening, the lawyers had established a stranglehold on the market. A few years ago, the Monopolies Commission investigated complaints that the solicitors were refusing to allow estate agents to advertise in the ESPC. They concluded that a "complex monopoly" did exist - but that it also benefitted customers. Now one of the largest estate agents in Scotland has called for sweeping changes and the setting up of a combined solicitor and estate agent organisation. But that seems a bit like getting turkeys to vote for Christmas.

Biggest Peacetime Naval Exercise for Scottish Waters

The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise will lead a huge fleet of ships on exercise off Cape Wrath in the north-west of Scotland this summer. But the Royal Navy is so anxious to avoid disturbing the local wildlife that the date of the largest peacetime naval exercise in UK waters is being dictated by the mating season of birds in a nearby sanctuary. And a crack team of Royal Marines will monitor the wellbeing of the local puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. Part of the naval exercise involves firing shells onto the land but it appears that despite these annual exercises and the "noisy neighbours" the birds return each year to the same area.

One Man Delays Bridge Construction Six Months

The move by BBC Scotland to a "media village" on the south bank of the river Clyde in Glasgow and the regeneration of a surrounding derelict area which would create thousands of jobs has been delayed by six months as a result of court action by one man. William Smith claims that the construction of the £10 million "squinty" bridge (it is to be built diagonally across the river) will allow the river above the bridge to silt up, potentially causing floods which would threaten his home in Kinning Park. It took six months to get a hearing of the case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh but now the judges have put off giving a ruling for another six months.

Another Traditional Sabbath Stronghold Breached

Despite protests from traditionalists on the island of Raasay, the ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne is to start a Sunday service to the island which is separated from the island of Skye by a two-mile stretch of water. Supporters of the CalMac ferry starting a regular Sunday service point to the fact that there is a private ferry which is always available for hire to get round the previous embargo. CalMac does not run a Sunday service to Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna on a Sunday but that is more for commercial reasons as the islands are sparsely populated. In 1965, there were protests when the first Sunday service started to Skye - there is now a bridge linking the island to the mainland.

Church Recommended to Cut Missionary Work

The state of the finances of the Church of Scotland is giving such cause for concern that the General Assembly, meeting later in May, will be encouraged to agree a budget cut of £800,000, with overseas missionary work the main area of cut-backs. Although members are contributing more per head than they did, the total number of members has been in steady decline. As with many commercial companies, the fall in the stock market has also seen the Church's pension fund move from a surplus of £8 million at the end of 2000 to a current deficit of £56 million.

Highland Airways Flying High

Highland Airways, based in Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow, operates scheduled services to the remote Scottish islands such as Benbecula, Lewis and Shetland and charter services. However, costs are high and passenger load factors are often low, so the airline has operated at a loss for the last two years. But it has just signed a five-year contract with the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency to operate that organisation's two aircraft based at Inverness. That deal will help the company to move back into profit - and safeguard those vital air services to the remote islands which carry not only passengers but also newspapers and mail.

From Open Cast Mining to Art Form

Scottish Coal has announced that it is bringing in Prof. Charles Jencks, an American environmental architect, to transform former opencast coal mines east of Motherwell into landscape art. Prof Jencks has already implemented designs at Portrack House in Dumfries and Galloway and he designed the landform at the Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh (pictured here). He is already working on ideas for the abandoned mines, contrasting the black coal and the surrounding white stone. Moulded grass areas and lakes with willow trees are also being considered. The area in North Lanarkshire used to be one of the largest opencast mining sites in Scotland until it closed eighteen months ago.

World's Largest Collection of Kilts

A 27,000 sq ft industrial warehouse at Glasgow Business Park is now the home of the world's largest collection of kilts - all available for hire via over 1,000 retailers across the UK. The high-tech facilities with sophisticated bar codes allow ACS Clothing to sort and deliver 6,000 full Highland dress outfits an hour so that orders can be dispatched within 24 hours. A steam tunnel allows them to press 525 kilts an hour. Needless to say, most of the kilts are in the traditional style - not a pin-stripe in sight.

Pringle Launching in South Korea

The re-vitalised Scottish Borders luxury knitwear company of Pringle has set its sights on launching its products in South Korea, which is said to have the second largest luxury goods market in Asia. Galleria, the largest department store in Seoul, is to start selling Pringle of Scotland products next year. Pringle sales have gone up by leaps and bounds after the company was bought over by Hong Kong Investors Fang Brothers. It has expanded from its golf course image into trendier fashion styles, fronted by model Sophie Dahl and film star Ewan McGregor.

Solving the Mystery of Shirrapburn Loch

A painting in the National Gallery of Scotland by the celebrated 19th century Scottish artist William Dyce entitled "Shirrapburn Loch" has puzzled art historians. Firstly there is no such place on the map and secondly, despite various efforts by researchers, nobody has been able to identify the location in the painting. The work is considered to be one of the best landscapes produced in Scotland - and identifying the place it was painted would add considerably to it value. So Helen Smailes, a curator at the National Gallery has decided to get on her hiking books and search a number of locations the artist is known to have visited. They include the Isle of Arran, parts of Argyll and the glens of Strathspey. Dyce was born in Aberdeen in 1806 and lived until 1864, so many of the features in the painting may have changed since the work was painted. However, from other landscapes by Dyce, it is known that he painted scenes with great accuracy.

Weather in Scotland This Week

20C (68F) may not seem high in some parts of the world. But last weekend when most parts of Scotland reached close to that level in clear blue skies, it caused many people to reach for the sun-tan lotion - and caused those who didn't to regret their lack of caution the next day. Of course, it didn't last long although parts of the west managed to record a fair amount of sunshine this week- interspersed with a number of showers. By Thursday, however, temperatures were down to 13C (55F) in Glasgow and an even cooler 9C (48F) in Aberdeen. But on Saturday the temperatures rose again, with Glasgow having a sunny 19C (66F).

This week's illustrations of current flowers in Scotland show first of all tulips the walled garden besied the "House for an Art Lover" building in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. This is one of the best kept gardens in a city with a world-wide reputation for its parks. At the moment there are hundreds of tulips of every hue on display and these will be replaced by other colourful displays as the seasons progress.

Below, are illustrations of a pink rhododendron in Glenarn, Argyll. This is a private garden and a month ago there was a magnificent display of magnolias. Some of the earlier rhododendrons are now over but there are plenty more just coming into bloom.

The last picture is of an azalea which is just coming into flower in another part of Bellahouston Park.

Culloden Victory

The site of the defeat of the Jacobite Uprising in 1746 has been selected by a group of American archaeologists as one of the most interesting battlefield sites in the world to visit. Culloden, a few miles east of Inverness, marked the end of Bonnie Prince Charlie attempt to wrest the throne back from the Hanoverians. Many people who visit the site find there is an erie feeling to the area where 1,200 Jacobites and 300 government troops died in a battle which lasted little more than an hour. The battlefield is well preserved by the National Trust for Scotland are there are plans to develop the visitor centre there.

Book Displayed After 100 Years

The Mitchell Library in Glasgow, the largest public reference library in Europe, has owned a copy of four volumes of Audubon's Birds of America for 102 years. But during that time the valuable books of illustrations have been deemed too valuable to display to the general public. However, as part of a £3.5 million redevelopment of the library, the books will go on display as the centrepiece of a new visitor attraction. The books measure 39 inches by 27 inches and the Mitchell has one of only 15 complete sets surviving of the masterpiece by the 19th century artist-adventurer John James Audubon. The last set to be auctioned fetched £7 million in New York.

Next Week in History

• May 2 1316 - Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert the Bruce, crowned High King of All Ireland.
• May 2 1424 - King James I crowned at Scone.
• May 2 1568 - Mary Queen of Scots escaped from Loch Leven castle.
• May 2 1901 - Glasgow International Exhibition in Kelvingrove opened.
• May 2 1933 - The story of the Loch Ness Monster first appeared in the press, starting off a long-running debate on whether or not some unknown animal or fish inhabits the murky depths of the loch.
• May 2 1963 - Rootes car factory opens at Linwood, making the Hillman Imp.
• May 3 1557 - John Knox began the Reformation in Scotland.
• May 3 1926 - General Strike began at midnight, the first in British history. It lasted until 12 May.
• May 4 1645 - Marquis of Montrose victorious at Battle of Auldearn.
• May 5 1646 - King Charles I surrenders to Lord Leven and was later passed to the Parliamentary forces.
• May 5 1758 - James Taylor who developed the steamboat was born.
• May 5 1975 - The "Scottish Daily News", the first workers' co-operative national newspaper was published.
• May 6 1870 - Sir James Young Simpson advocate of chloroform, died.
• May 6 1941 - Last major bombing attack on the Clyde area by the Luftwaffe; Greenock was badly hit with 280 dead.
• May 6 1959 - Icelandic gunboats fired live rounds at British fishing trawlers, many of them from Scottish ports, during the "Cod War" over fishing rights.
• May 6 1999 - Election for the new Scottish Parliament.
• May 7 1544 - Earl of Hereford invaded Scotland on behalf of Henry VIII in an attempt to force the Scots to agree to the marriage of Mary to Henry's son, Edward. This is known as the "Rough Wooing".
• May 7 1890 - James Naysmith, engineer and inventor of steam hammer, died
• May 7 1945 - Victory-in-Europe Day, end of World War II in Europe.
• May 8 1701 - Scottish-born pirate "Captain" William Kidd tried for piracy at London's Old Bailey. He was hanged on 23 May.

Armadillo Architects to Design New Arena

The creators of the Clyde Auditorium - nicknamed the Armadillo by Glaswegians because of its distinctive shape (see illustration) - have been appointed to design a new £50 million national arena nearby on the riverside site. Foster and Partners, headed by Lord Foster, has been appointed design team leader of the 12,500-seat arena building near the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. This will be the first stage in the redevelopment of the old Queens Dock costing £350 million.

U-Turn on Theatre Funding

Eight theatre companies, threatened with closure after the Scottish Arts Council announced withdrawal of their core funding, have been given a reprieve. The SAC has identified additional cash available which will be enough to keep the groups going for another year. They include leading companies such as 7:84, Borderline, Mull Theatre and Suspect Culture. The results of a "cultural review" will be known next year at which time the future of arts and its funding may become clearer.

Beltane Fire Festival Toasts City Council

There was a successful last-minute appeal to the city council by the organisers of the Beltane Fire Festival on Edinburgh's Calton Hill this week. It allowed alcohol to be consumed at the event which celebrates the arrival of spring on 1 May. It was argued that the ban on alcohol was an "infringement of human rights" as the festival is a "form of religious expression which has been long established." The event had to be cancelled last year because the council had insisted on a public entertainment licence, and additional health and safety costs which the organisers could not afford. It was reinstated after agreeing a 1am curfew and a £3 entry fee.

Starring Role for Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh became a film set last weekend as filming took place there for Peter Mullan's latest production "Man to Man" starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Joseph Fiennes. The 19th century period drama is set in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders and South Africa.

Impresario's New Role

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, a leading producer of stage shows in London's West End (including Les Miserables, Cats and Phantom of the Opera) is to become president of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Glasgow. He is to take over the role from Dame Judi Dench and will act as a figurehead for the academy and as an ambassador at home and abroad. He is already heavily involved with the organisation - the Cameron Mackintosh Foundation provides scholarships at RSAMD. Sir Cameron has an estimated fortune of £400 million and has homes in London and New York as well as a 13,000-acre estate in the north-west of Scotland.

Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results

Heart of Midlothian 1 Celtic 1
Denmark 1 Scotland 0 (International Friendly)

Bank of Scotland Premier League Results - 1 May 2004

Dundee United 0 Heart of Midlothian 2
Hibernian 1 Dundee 0
Kilmarnock 4 Livingston 2
Partick Thistle 2 Aberdeen 0
Rangers 4 Motherwell 0
Celtic play Dunfermline on Sunday

Scottish First Division Results - 1 May 2004

Ayr United 1 Clyde 1
Brechin City 1 Ross County 0
Inverness 0 Falkirk 0
Queen of the South 1 St Johnstone 1
St Mirren 1 Raith Rovers 1

BT Scotland Rugby Cup Final - 1 May 2004

Glasgow Hawks 29 Dundee HSFP 17

League Tables - 1 May 2004

With the Scottish Premier League championship decided, Rangers' comprehensive victory over Motherwell had little impact in the top half of the SPL. Partick Thistle are now waiting to see whether the eventual First Division champions have a ground deemed acceptable by the SPL to gain promotion which would see Glasgow's third SPL team relegated. Even so, they managed to achieve a rare win over second-bottom Aberdeen.

In the First Division, league leaders Clyde and second placed Inverness both drew, leaving Clyde two points above their rivals. And the foot of the First Division, the bottom two teams are even closer, with Brechin on 26 points and Ayr United on 27.

Scotland Continue Their Losing Ways

The international "friendly" match against Denmark on Wednesday was the 14th such contest since manager Berti Vogts took over. Some commentators did see the Scottish team performing with some determination and organisation - aspects which have been sadly lacking for some time. But the 1-0 defeat brought the number of such games lost to 11, with two draws and one solitary win - against Canada in October 2002. Taking all the internationals into account, including the failure to qualify for Euro 2004, Scotland under Berti Vogts has won just six games out of 24. True, the manager is often faced with his top selections for the team unavailable due to injury - though there are suggestions that some players make over much of their aches and pains. Of course, Scotland has a history of losing against Denmark - the last win was in 1975 and Scotland have failed to score against the Danes in four games since then.

St Johnstone Sack Manager

Billy Stark, manager of St Johnstone for the last two years, has been sacked by the club after failing to realise the club's ambition to win promotion back to the Scottish Premier League after relegation in 2002. Dismissal came after last Saturday's draw with Ayr United who are second from the foot of the table. That result left St Johnstone nine points adrift from the First Division leader and finally killed off any hope of promotion this season. According to the football commentators, John Connolly, manager of Queen of the South, is currently the favourite to succeed Stark.

Drinks Test at Murrayfield

Back in 1980, the sale of alcoholic drink to the public at football and rugby grounds was banned, following alcohol-fuelled violence at Rangers and Celtic football matches, in particular the 1980 Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park. Attempts have been made on a number of occasions to get the ban lifted at Murrayfield, particularly for international rugby games. At last the Scottish Rugby Union has been given the green light for the sale of beer or wine from a marquee in the east stand during the BT Scotland rugby cup final on Saturday. The SRU hope to be able to set up similar facilities at the Scotland v Barbarians match on Saturday 22 May. However, current legislation still prohibits the sale of alcohol at international matches.

Clachnacuddin Win Highland League

Clachnacuddin have won their first Highland League title for 29 years. They clinched the title last weekend with a 2-1 win over Cove Rangers, putting them two points ahead of Buckie Thistle but with two games in hand. They have lost only three games this season.

Scotland's Worst Football Team?

East Stirlingshire (defeated 8-1 last Saturday by Albion Rovers) are heading for the record books. With just one win, two draws and 30 defeats, the club is about to displace the record set by Clyde in 1900 for the lowest number of points in a season. The club, at the foot of the Third Division, have now conceded 116 goals and scored just 28. The club lost a lot of senior players early in the season - when weekly wages were cut from £30 a week to £20 - and have struggled ever since. The only consolation (?) is that the club cannot be relegated - there is nowhere to be relegated to.

Bad Start for Claymores

The Scottish Claymores have got off to a dreadful start in their NFL Europe season - they have lost all of their first four matches and have not scored a touch-down in three of their matches. 20 points in four matches is the least productive set of results in NFL Europe League history.