Programme information
ShowToday the Scottish Government revealed the package of bills which they will bring forward over the next year. Among them is the proposed legislation which could pave the way for an independent Scotland and legalise same sex marriage. There were also promises of six hundred hours of free child care. In other news: Benefit delays, redundancy and falling incomes are forcing a soaring number of Scots to turn to charity so they can feed themselves and their families. Citizens Advice Scotland say it's handled double the amount of emergency referrals in a year. Organisations, who run food banks say they're extending services to cope with demand. A new hard hitting TV advert aimed at raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of Breast Cancer will be aired across Scotland from nine o'clock tonight. The campaign, launched today by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, is the second phase of the Scottish Government's thirty million pound Detect Cancer Early initiative. Members of the public are being warned not to approach the pilot whales which were rescued after beaching on the Fife coast. Around twelve mammals have been spotted swimming in the bay at North Queenferry today. But there are concerns local boats may be causing them further distress. Any new business case put forward under a Scottish Government-backed funding scheme must include proposals to re-develop Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens. Last month councillors in the city rejected the controversial 140 million pounds City Garden Project. Today Alex Neil said to qualify for any re-vamping, the gardens must be part of any future TIF application. Aberdeen's Hogmanay fireworks celebrations have been cancelled due to council cutbacks. Councillors are set to discuss the matter at next week's enterprise, planning and infrastructure meeting. Instead members are being recommended to approve support for developing a new family event at Hogmanay in Aberdeen for 2013. And in sports: Huddersfield Town's Paul Dixon's set for his Scotland debut in Saturday's World Cup qualifier with Serbia. Dixon and MK Dons defender Gary MacKenzie have been drafted in. Celtic's Charlie Mulgrew seems set to withdraw through injury. After striking Olympic gold this summer, Aberdeen rower Katherine Grainger says she's still to decide if she'll defend her title in Rio in four years. Andy Murray hit top form to book his US Open quarter final spot. He progressed after thrashing Canada's Meelos Ranich in straight sets. He'll face Croatia's Marin Cilic in the last eight. This international version of STV News at Six is viewable world-wide. It has been edited for rights reasons, which also allows us to keep the programme online after the initial 24-hour broadcast window in the UK has passed. Viewers within the UK who want to watch the full episode 'as broadcast' should select the UK version of the programme.
