The Herald

Dismay As Teenage Abortions Rise to Record 3304

HEALTH officials reacted with disappointment yesterday after an increase in teenage abortions in Scotland last year brought them to record levels. Of 12,603 abortions, 3304 were carried out on women and girls under 20, an increase of 86 on the previous year.

Power Prices Up Along with Profits

Energy customers were warned yesterday of more price rises on the day their supplier unveiled profits of GBP675m, up 47per cent on last year. ScottishPower told five million customers that higher tariffs were unavoidable because it continued to be hit by high wholesale gas costs.

Fans' Chants Cost Rangers Gbp13,300

RANGERS were yesterday fined GBP13,300 by European football's governing body for the sectarian chanting of their fans, and severely warned over their future conduct. The decision, at a Uefa hearing in Nyon, Switzerland, overturned a previous verdict on the case. Rangers said they would not be contesting the judgment, but some supporters' groups were unhappy at the outcome.

24 Hours On: Reid has to Apologise

AFURIOUS John Reid, the home secretary, apologised yesterday only hours after figures he gave to MPs on Tuesday on the foreign prisoners fiasco proved to be wrong. After telling the Commons that four foreign murderers and 23 other serious offenders were in prison, he was forced to reveal that some had been freed on bail.

Call to Reform Divorce Payouts Scots Law Lord Opens Door to Higher Awards After Landmark English Cases

SCOTLAND'S divorce laws should be reformed to provide compensation for wives who sacrifice their careers to raise children, one of the most senior judges in the UK said yesterday. The call came as five law lords in the House of Lords delivered judgments on two high-profile divorce cases which could affect the way assets are divided in Scotland in the future.

Fears That Sheridan Legal Battle Could Bring End of Ssp

THE Scottish Socialist party fears it could be driven into bankruptcy and wound up as a result of legal bills linked to a defamation case launched by Tommy Sheridan, its ex-leader. Party members told The Herald the organisation lacked the funds for a lengthy court battle with a tabloid newspaper and may not be able to survive in the long term.

Campaign Code of Conduct Urged

ANGUS Robertson, the SNP MP for Moray, has called for cross- party action to establish a code of conduct for political campaigning. Mr Robertson, who was incensed by Liberal Democrat tactics during the recent Scottish parliamentary by-election in Moray, met the Electoral Commission in London yesterday to ask it to impose enforceable standards.

Msp Urges Deal for Sex Workers Smuggled Into Country

WOMEN smuggled into Scotland as sex workers should be given special treatment by the immigration authorities and incentives to provide evidence against traffickers, a leading Labour back bencher will demand in Holyrood today. Trish Godman, the deputy presiding officer, is using a debate on the subject to put pressure on ministers in Scotland and Whitehall to sign up to a new international convention intended to fight human trafficking.

Watson Says Sorry for Starting Fire

Asbos Urged for Bank Chiefs

Scotland Failing On Foreign Deals Multinationals Lured Away by Lower- Wage Economies

SCOTLAND is losing ground to the rest of Britain in attracting inward investment projects from multinational companies, according to official data. Foreign direct investment is sharply down in recent years, and figures show that Scotland's share of newly-attracted projects has fallen in comparison with other parts of the UK.

Eight Held in Anti-Terror Raids Over Attack Plot

EIGHT people were being held last night following an anti- terrorist operation across England which targeted people suspected of plotting attacks in Iraq. More than 500 police officers, MI5, and personnel from the Immigration Service were involved in dawn raids at 19 addresses in Manchester, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Birmingham and London.

Fears Over Shake-Up in Training of New Head Teachers

PLANS for a radical shake-up in the way school staff train to become head teachers could lead to "jobs for the boys", it was claimed yesterday. Scotland's largest teaching union said a Scottish Executive consultation document on making it easier for teachers to study for the standard for headship qualification could be hijacked by local authorities.

Support England? No Way, Says Mcconnell

JACK McConnell has ducked the opportunity to bury old enmities and support England in the World Cup. The first minister has parted company with the Scottish chancellor in Downing Street, after Gordon Brown sought to wrap himself in the St George's Cross and said most Scots would want England to do well. Sir Menzies Campbell the Liberal Democrat leader and Fife MP has also backed England.

Gbp2bn Rescue Deal for Workers Who Lost Company Pensions 30,000 People Set to Benefit As Hutton Unveils White Paper

THOUSANDS of workers who lost their pensions when their companies crashed will be awarded GBP2bn compensation under a new deal. John Hutton, the work and pensions secretary, will today announce plans to extend the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) to cover workers up to 15 years from retiring when he unveils the long- awaited white paper on pensions in the Commons.

Mckie Case Opens Door to Hundreds of Appeals, Claims Qc

HUNDREDS of prisoners convicted on fingerprint evidence may have grounds for appeal as a result of the Holyrood hearing into the Shirley McKie case, a QC claimed yesterday. Maggie Scott, chair of the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association, said there seemed to be a systematic failure by the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) and the Crown Office to tell defendants when fingerprint identifications had been disputed.

Camper Killed As Gust of Wind Blows Tent Off Cliff

AMAN has died after his tent was apparently blown off an island clifftop. The incident is believed to have happened on Tuesday night or early yesterday when Skye was being lashed by strong winds and heavy rain.

Weather Is Winner at Drymen Show Again

ONE of Scotland's biggest agricultural shows has been cancelled for the fifth time in seven years because of poor weather. As many as 10,000 people were expected to travel to Drymen this Saturday but organisers to postpone the event because of rain earlier in the week and a gloomy forecast for the weekend.

Two Women Who Rewrote the Rules On Divorce Judges' Decision Sets Precedents Across Uk

ITwas a victory for the rights of ex-wives everywhere, delivered by five law lords. All future decisions on how assets are divided between divorcing couples will be shaped by the two historic judgments reached in the highest court in the land yesterday.

Question That May Drive Up Cost of Police Chief 'S Car

AFREEDOM of information request aimed at revealing if a police board spent too much on cars for its two most senior officers could end up costing the board a great deal more. It may also have implications for other police forces across the country.