The Herald

Msps Fear Holyrood Chamber Will Be Shut for Months

MSPs will be unable to return to the Holyrood debating chamber for at least another week, and possibly months, while hundreds of roof bolts are checked for damage. Some MSPs fear the centrepiece of the GBP431m parliament could be closed until the Easter recess in April, or even the summer. As The Herald revealed yesterday, a broken connecting bolt was to blame for a 12ft oak beam falling out of position in the roof last week, causing the area to be evacuated.

Atheist Wins Case Over His Promotion Ban at Catholic School

ATEACHER who lost out on promotion at a Roman Catholic school because he was an atheist has won his claim for religious discrimination. In a case which could have far-reaching implications for the way denominational schools are run in Scotland, an employment tribunal ruled Glasgow City Council had discriminated against David McNab on the grounds of his religious beliefs by preventing him applying for a promoted post teaching pastoral care.

Extra Cost of Consultants' Pay: Gbp235m. Extra Benefit to Patients: Nil Auditor Reveals Total Bill Is Nearly Four Times the Original Estimate

ANEW pay deal for hospital consultants has cost GBP235m over three years in Scotland, but there is little benefit to show for it, a damning report says today. The public efficiency watchdog, Audit Scotland, finds the total bill for the package is GBP171m more than had been estimated by the Scottish Executive when ministers approved the deal.

Court Costs Ruling May Open New Chapter in Mckie Case Ministers Not yet in Clear After Msps Block Snp Inquiry Call

MINISTERS last night won a key battle in their campaign to bring an end to the Shirley McKie affair but a court action will today examine their conduct in the case. There have been mounting calls for a public inquiry to be held after the former Strathclyde Police officer received a GBP750,000 settlement from the Scottish Executive.

Party Donor 'Denied Peerage' Demands Answers

ALABOUR donor who was reportedly blocked from the House of Lords has demanded answers from the honours watchdog. Dr Chai Patel, head of the Priory rehab clinics, insisted his "reputation as a human being" was at stake over the claims that it had raised objections about him.

Census to Question National Identity

ITis an age-old puzzle that is epitomised in the public personae of a politician and a rock star. Is home the place you were born or where your heart lies? Tony Blair, the Scots-born prime minister, is likely to consider England his homeland, while Rod Stewart, the London-born singer, has had a lifelong love of all things Scottish.

Ban On Smoking Will Help 150,000 Scots Quit

HUNDREDS of thousands of Scots smokers are set to kick the habit or cut down after the ban on lighting up in enclosed public places comes into force in less than three weeks. According to a survey by the Scottish Executive, 14per cent believe the ban will help them stop smoking while a further 24per cent say it will reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke.

Rangers Finalise 10-Year Merchandise Deal Worth Gbp48m with Sports Chain

RANGERS last night announced that they have agreed a 10-year licence with the JJB Sports chain to sell their products in a deal worth GBP48m to the club. The Ibrox club will receive an initial payment of GBP18m on June 7 - the day they launch their new Umbro home kit for next season - and a guaranteed minimum annual royalty of GBP3m in each year of the licence.

Crivvens: Hitler Planned the Firing Squad for Oor Wullie's Disrespect of 'Gerries'

THEY hardly ranked with the other political protagonists that the Nazis destined for the firing squad such as George Orwell, but OorWullie's creators were also listed for execution, a TV documentary suggests. They were put on a Nazi hit list because Wullie continually poked fun at Hitler in his comic strip. The schoolboy pelted suspected Nazis with catapults and cap-guns and even formed a boys' national defence corps to take on the "Gerries".

Wanted: Young Foster Parents Dire Shortage of Carers Prompts Appeal for More Volunteers

ADRIVE to recruit younger foster carers was launched yesterday in an attempt to prevent vulnerable children from having to travel to other parts of Scotland to receive care. Glasgow has a dire shortage of foster families.

'Brilliant News' for the Breeders

JIM Stewart, an Aberdeenshire farmer, said the end of the ban was "brilliant news". Mr Stewart, who has farmed at Kinbroon of Rothienorman, since 1987, has a herd of around 100 cattle from which he breeds store calves - animals which are raised to a year old and then sent to a finisher to be fattened up for about a year before slaughter.

New Era for Beef Industry As Eu Lifts 10-Year Export Ban Farmers Look to Rebuild Trade After Losses of Gbp1bn

SCOTLAND'S beef farmers will finally be able to export their products to the continent after a ban was lifted yesterday which has cost GBP1bn in lost business over the past 10 years. European veterinary experts yesterday decided to end the export ban imposed in March 1996 after the government linked BSE, the brain- wasting disease in cattle, with new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - or mad cow disease - in humans.

Common-Law Wife On Murder Charge

Verdict Due On Deepcut Death

Father 'Hounded Out of His Work by Csa'

APART-TIME firefighter who was "hounded" out of public life by the Child Support Agency was given an absolute discharge at Falkirk Sheriff Court, yesterday. William Ligget, 44, of Littledenny Road, Denny, Stirlingshire, pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace by pouring paint over the doors of CSA offices in Callendar Park, on January 26.

Scotland Squad Loses Supermarket Sponsor

THE Scottish football team has lost its shirt sponsor after a supermarket chain decided not to extend its existing GBP5m deal. The four-year, GBP5.1m contract was agreed between Safeway with the Scottish Football Association in 2002, and Morrisons inherited it when it bought Safeway two years ago.

Anti-Suicide Strategy at Only Scots Private Jail 'Competent'

SCOTLAND's only private jail was deemed safe and its antisuicide strategy thorough by prison inspectors today. A BBC documentary last year claimed suicide watches were not being carried out properly amid staff shortages at Kilmarnock prison.

S1jobs Outstrips Its Rivals

THE employment website S1jobs has outstripped its competition, latest industry figures reveal. The site, which is owned by Newsquest, publisher of The Herald, attracts 204,364 Scottish-based users per month on average, three times more than ScotCareers, its rival, according to the National Online Recruitment Audience survey.

Msps Back Pupils On Weighty Issue

MSPs yesterday signalled their support for a pupil-led campaign to prevent back injuries caused by the carrying of overweight bags of school books. Holyrood's petitions committee agreed to lobby Peter Peacock, the education minister, after pupils from Ross Hall Academy in Glasgow said a lack of lockers was forcing children to carry heavy bags all day and causing back problems.

Teenage Rewards: Gbp300 for Being Obedient English Copy Scots Model

A SCOTTISH-style reward scheme for well-behaved youngsters was unveiled by Gordon Brown for England, yesterday, as part of a drive to encourage social responsibility and combat anti-social activity. Law-abiding teenagers could receive as much as GBP25 a month, or GBP300 a year, to spend on sport and leisure facilities under the youth opportunity cards scheme.