Morning briefing: drink-driving limit | Susan Boyle tribute | JK Rowling book festival

JUSTICE Secretary Kenny MacAskill was today due to out plans to cut the drink-driving limit in a bid to save lives on Scotland’s roads.

The Scottish Government wants to use its newly devolved power over the amount of alcohol motorists can drink and reduce the legal limit from the current 80mg per 100ml to 50mg per 100ml.

More than one in nine road deaths involve drivers who were over the limit.

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The Scotland Act, passed earlier this year, transferred responsibility for the drink-drive limit in Scotland from Westminster to Holyrood.

Lowering the limit to 50mg would bring Scotland in line with other European countries such as Germany, France and Spain. The UK Government currently has no plans to follow suit for England and Wales.

Road safety campaign Brake has said lowering the drink-drive limit to 50mg is a step in the right direction, though it wants to go further and bring in a “zero tolerance” policy towards drink-driving.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has argued lowering the limit could stretch police resources and lead to many drivers being caught who were not causing problems.

Permanent exhibt to be set up in honour of Susan Boyle

SINGING star Susan Boyle is set to have a permanent exhibition created paying tribute to her.

Bosses at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate are in talks to set up an exhibition in honour of the Britain’s Got Talent runner-up and international chart topper.

The theatre played an important role in the early rise of the singer, from Blackburn in West Lothian, who first performed her signature song I Dreamed A Dream at the venue and has agreed to become its patron.

And the bond between SuBo and the Regal will be cemented today when the singer returns there to grace a showcase of local singing talent.

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Theatre managers said they hoped one of Susan’s dresses - designed exclusively for her by Suzanne Neville and worn by the singer in Madrid on the Ana Rosa TV show and at a show in Paris - would become the centrepiece of the new exhibition, which will chart the singer’s rise to stardom.

The theatre is now on the hunt for other pieces of SuBo memorabilia to put on show.

Charles Earley, chair of the Regal Theatre Board, said: “At some point we would like to have some kind of permanent exhibition in the theatre recognising Susan’s achievements.

“We are talking to Creative Scotland about future funding for a permanent exhibition in the theatre and we are very excited about it.

“I think having Susan Boyle as our patron is a huge plus point for us.”

JK Rowling set for book festival appearance

HARRY Potter author JK Rowling is to make her only Scottish appearance this year at the Lennoxlove Book Festival.

The author will discuss her new book for adults, The Casual Vacancy, on the main stage of Lennoxlove, in East Lothian, on November 2.

The coup has been welcomed by festival bosses, who said this year’s line-up would be the “best yet” - with a loyalty scheme also being introduced to offer friends of the festival priority booking.

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Festival co-director Alistair Moffat said: “Having one of the best-known writers in the world at Lennoxlove Book Festival is a great coup for us, and for East Lothian.

“JK Rowling will be followed by a procession of wonderful writers, entertainers and thinkers, all to be announced on September 13.”

Man taken to hospital after flat fire

A man was taken to hospital after a “severe” fire in a flat early today.

Firefighters were called to the first-floor property in Ramsay Place, Portobello, Edinburgh, at around 5.20am.

Two men were rescued by officers and one was taken to hospital.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: “Six officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat and led the men to safety. A 50-year-old man was suffering from severe smoke inhalation and was given oxygen by officers before paramedics took him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The other man was checked over but didn’t need to go to hospital.

“The fire caused severe damage to the bedroom it started in and smoke damage to the rest of the flat and the central stairs of the building.”

The building was checked for damage but other residents in the block did not need to be evacuated, the spokewoman added.

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Firefighters also dealt with a kitchen fire in the capital late last night.

A resident of the property in Claverhouse Drive tried to extinguish the blaze before leaving the house to wait for the fire service to arrive.

A neighbour then entered the house to make sure the fire was out. He had to be led to safety by firefighters when they arrived at the scene and was given treatment for smoke inhalation. He did not need further medical attention, the service spokeswoman said.