20 May 2013
The Church of Scotland is expected to accept gay ministers - according to a leading critic. The Reverend Ian Watson - a member of the Kirk's evangelical wing, which opposes the move, says it's unlikely to secure enough votes to retain the ban on gay clergy. He said a motion permitting gay ministers, but giving congregations the right to opt out, was likely to pass at the general assembly in Edinburgh.
20 May 2013
New figures suggest Scotland's economy is beginning to show a more robust recovery with jobs and salaries on the rise. The Bank of Scotland report on jobs in April shows the strongest increase in permanent appointments for a year. Companies link the rise in full-time positions to higher demand and a more buoyant labour market.
20 May 2013
Fife Council is confident its "ambitious" plans can improve the Kingdom - despite major spending cuts. There are five broad aims to the Council Plan 2017, which look to improve life in the region despite cutting services. The local authority is facing a budget shortfall of £100 million over the next four years. Incoming Chief Executive Steve Grimmond says they need to think big with a smaller budget.
20 May 2013
An independent Scotland would face significant difficulties underwriting personal savings of up to £85,000, according to a UK Treasury report. It warns Scotland would struggle to offer protection to match initiatives like the UK's Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The report says members of benefit pension schemes would not be covered by the Pension Protection Fund, with an independent Scotland required to provide such protection through a similar guarantee fund under EU rules. The claims comes as the SNP government prepares to publish its own paper setting out the strengths of key sectors of Scotland’s economy, as part of the economic case for independence.
20 May 2013
A low-security facility near Cupar will not be used to accommodate high-risk patients. NHS Fife says Stratheden will care for patients who pose a low-risk and will not house overspill patients from the State Hospital at Carstairs. The unit at Stratheden Hospital opens today. Electric fencing and window mesh has already been installed.
17 May 2013
A third of Scotland's local roads are still not in an acceptable condition according to watchdogs.
Audit Scotland says the number is shrinking but is still higher than it was 8 years ago.
The body's concerned some councils haven't yet implemented recommendations it made 2 years ago.
Meanwhile, Fife Council's revealed it gritted the roads 220 times between October and April.
Senior Roads & Street Operations Manager David Blackie said the area suffered due to extreme cold temperatures and they're now working hard to fix the damage.
17 May 2013
Bikers are being urged to make sure they're safe to ride this summer.
Police have launched a three-day campaign about the importance of making sure motorbikes are roadworthy.
They'll be targetting known hotspots like the Fife coastal roads.
17 May 2013
Scientists claim the success rate of IVF could be improved, thanks to a new technique.
It involves tiny cameras taking thousands of pictures of embryos inside an incubator to see which is most likely to lead to a pregnancy.
Now it will be trialled to see whether the new technology is any better than the current system.
17 May 2013
Plans for a £4 million development on the edge of Dalgety Bay have been announced.
Scarborough Muir Group wants to demolish and rebuild the area at the entrance to Donibristle Industrial Estate, including the existing Play Planet.
The project dubbed the Gateway to Dalgety Bay is expected to create up to a hundred new jobs.
16 May 2013
A man and a woman have been detained by police after a three-hour armed stand off at an Edinburgh city centre pharmacy.
Staff and members of the public who were held hostage during the ordeal in Edinburgh's Royal Mile have been released safely.
Firearms officers deployed Tasers to detain the man during the incident at the Royal Mile Pharmacy.
The woman was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after she fell ill.
