Giant pandas - 'The deal is a boost for the whole city'

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland thinks being the only zoo in the UK with a breeding pair of this rare animal could attract one million visitors a year. That would make the zoo the most popular place to visit in Scotland and, together with our many other wonderful attractions like Edinburgh Castle, will generate many millions of tourist pounds here and across the nation.

That prospect is especially welcome given the economic slump and the inevitable impact it is having on money coming into the city - and that has been felt nowhere more keenly than at the zoo.

As the News has reported, the zoo has had to look at laying off a quarter of its staff amid a fall of around 12 per cent in visitor numbers.

Zoo bosses have pinned their hopes on a deal being struck with the Chinese to bring the giant pandas to Corstorphine and it now seems certain we will become one of only eight Western cities to have them.

Many people deserve credit for the breakthrough today, including the governments of Alex Salmond and David Cameron, which both lobbied China. But even though the deal was to be announced in London today, there should be no doubt that the main praise should stay in Edinburgh - the Society, and outgoing chief executive David Windmill in particular, put together a compelling case to become part of the worldwide effort to help save this endangered species.

There is much work to do to get the zoo ready to receive the pandas. It must progress quickly so the benefits of having them can begin.

Jobs for the boys?

YOU might think an organisation which employs 20,000 people would have little need to call on outside help to do its job.

Yet even with 343 staff senior enough to earn more than 50,000, and six on more than 120,000, the city council still spent more than 4m last year on consultants.

On the plus side, the bill has been dropping for two years. Also, it will never be zero, as there will always be a need to bring in some short-term expertise. Yet just last week, the authority advertised a 900,000 contract to survey its council houses. Aren't there housing department staff to do that?

As we report today, there are also concerns that former senior council staff are being brought back in, at great expense, to carry out work. They may be the best people and that may be cost-effective, but safeguards must be in place to ensure there is no suggestion of jobs for the boys.