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SSE says independence referendum is creating economic “uncertainty” | The independence referendum is endangering the Scottish economy after one of the country’s largest businesses confirmed “uncertainty about the future” is affecting its investment plans.

Alex Salmond has resorted to “insults and mistakes” to try and prevent the Scottish people voting in an independence referendum next year, the Government has said. | David Mundell MP has said there is no reason why Scots should not vote on independence in September 2013

Probe to focus on climate change and independence | Westminster’s Energy and Climate Committee is to hold an investigation into the effect that Scottish independence would have on the environment.

As the noisy manoeuvring continues over the referendum to take Scotland out of the United Kingdom, one voice is significant for its almost total silence. | Labour is more concerned about itself than the Union writes Alan Cochrane in the Telegraph

Stirling authority cuts council tax by 1% | The cut, put forward jointly by Labour and Conservatives, comes into effect from 1 April. 

A bridge too far? Forth road bridge set for a new lease of life | The threat to the Forth road bridge from corrosion is receding, new checks on its main cables are expected to show. The news would further postpone potential curbs on traffic – but also call into question the need for a new bridge costing as much as £1.6 billion.

Also in the Capital, spare trams ‘should be used as late-night couriers for parcels’ | They have already scoured Europe in an unsuccessful bid to off-load their unwanted tram cars.  Now city council leaders in Edinburgh want to turn the £2 million vehicles into “nocturnal couriers” to save them from redundancy.

Harman: Joyce rap’s Nat a vote winner | Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman yesterday denied the SNP would be boosted by Scots MP Eric Joyce’s assault rap.

Skippers and firm fined almost £1m for part in £63m ‘black fish’ scam | Seventeen Scottish skippers and a processing firm have received fines totalling almost £1m for their part in the UK’s biggest fraud involving illegal catches of fish.  The Scottish Sun go with a great headline Fin-loving criminals are fined

Teachers and SNP at loggerheads over ‘shambolic’ exam changes | Scotland’s teachers are at loggerheads with the Education Minister after they warned the introduction of new exams in schools has descended into a shambles that could harm pupils’ prospects of attending university.

Mortgaged to the hilt? Not us, say Scots first-time buyers | The typical Scottish first-time buyer spent 11.1 per cent of their income on mortgage interest payments in the last quarter of 2011 – lower than anywhere else in the UK, new figures have revealed.

Renowned physicist Peter Higgs has been honoured by the city which he has called home for half a century.  | Professor Higgs, 82, emeritus professor of Physics at Edinburgh University, was given the Edinburgh Award 2011 at the City Chambers.

And finally, BAAPS report more lift in number Moobs ops | The biggest rise in cosmetic surgery last year was in male chest reduction – from 10 to 15 per cent.