The Scottish government will continue to seek investment from China despite the collapse of a possible £10bn deal.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two state-backed Chinese firms.
But the companies later told the Scottish government by email that they were withdrawing from the deal.
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that her government remained committed to pursuing all investment opportunities.
Opposition politicians claimed the collapse of the agreement - which only became public knowledge when it was reported by the media in April - had been an "embarrassing saga" for her.
And Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accused the first minister of blaming everyone else for the collapse of the agreement, which had been signed by SinoFortone and China Railway No3 Engineering Group (CR3).
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also attacked the first minister, saying that "surely she is responsible for the collapse of this and nobody else".
The MoU had committed the Scottish government and the two Chinese companies to exploring opportunities for investment.
But when details of the agreement became public, it also emerged that Amnesty International had raised concerns over the human rights record of CR3, with the company being blacklisted by Norway's oil fund.
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that the government was made aware in August "that due to the political climate, our partners in that memorandum of understanding felt that they could not proceed at this time".
She added: "We did not take that as a cancellation of the memorandum of understanding, we remained committed then as we remain committed now to pursuing all opportunities for investment."
The first minister said the government will "continue to try to attract investment from China, from other countries, from anywhere that wants to invest in Scotland in reasonable investment proposals".
She also criticised rival party leaders, saying: "We have an opposition that demanded the cancellation of this memorandum of understanding, we have an opposition that had a hysterical over-the-top reaction to this memorandum of understanding.
"So, while I take responsibility for learning lessons, I really do think the opposition also have to reflect on their behaviour, which led to a political climate in which these partners felt they couldn't proceed."
And Ms Sturgeon said it was "double standards on stilts" for Ms Davidson to raise the China deal with her when the Conservative government at Westminster has failed to answer questions on a reported deal with car manufacturers Nissan over Brexit.
Ms Davidson responded by saying: "I cannot believe the first minister is persisting to come to the chamber today to say that the Chinese Communist Party pulled the plug on this deal because they heard the Scottish Liberal Democrats roar.
"This entire saga is embarrassing. It is embarrassing for the government and I think it is embarrassing for our country.
"Because if we spell out what was at stake here - or what we're now told was at stake here because it was hidden at the time - it was £10bn that could have been invested in housing and transport, and that's exactly the kind of investment you would expect the Scottish government to pull out all the stops to secure."


The two men who died when a light aircraft crashed near Abernyte in Perthshire on Sunday have been named.

Police said the occupants were 37-year-old Andrew Thompson, who was from Chester but had also lived in Bearsden in Glasgow, and 53-year-old John MacKinnon, from Ross-shire.
Formal identification is yet to take place.
The plane had been expected at Dundee airport at 12:00, but lost contact while about four miles away.
It had left Inverness airport on Sunday morning, and had been in contact with air traffic control in Dundee.
Weather was poor at the time it went missing, with heavy rain, fog and wind gusts of up to 35mph (56kmh).
A large ground and air search was launched for the plane, involving police, coastguard teams, the RNLI and the RAF.
Rescuers discovered the wreckage about four hours later, about 10 miles (16km) west of the airport.
Police said joint investigations to establish the full circumstances of the crash would continue and formal identifications of both deceased would take place in due course.
Dundee Airport, on the shore of the Firth of Tay, is a popular base in the area for light aircraft enthusiasts.


Brazil's Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani has told the BBC Rio de Janeiro is ready for the Olympic Games.

He dismissed concerns over unfinished building work, the outbreak of the Zika virus and political uncertainty following the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff.
Everyone going to the Games would "have a great experience", Mr Picciani said.
His remarks come a week after more than 200 scientists asked for the Games to be moved or postponed over Zika.
Zika outbreak: What you need to know
In an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), the scientists argued that the WHO declaration of Zika as a public health emergency coupled with new scientific findings underscoring the seriousness of Zika made it "unethical" for the Games to go ahead in Rio as planned.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 5 August.
The WHO initially joined the International Olympic Committee in dismissing calls for the Games to the postponed or moved.
But in a letter dated 1 June, WHO head Margaret Chan wrote that "given the current level of international concern, I have decided to ask members of the Zika Emergency Committee to examine the risks of holding the Olympic Summer Games as currently scheduled".
Mr Picciani told the BBC that "all the precautions" had been taken to prevent the spread of Zika.
The 36-year-old minister took up the post less than a month ago.
He was appointed by Michel Temer, who took over as interim president after Ms Rousseff was suspended pending an impeachment trial.
Mr Picciani said that despite the political upheaval created by Ms Rousseff's trial, the team behind the Olympics was running "seamlessly".
He said more than 2,000 health workers had been deployed to inform Rio's population on how to combat the mosquito which spreads the Zika virus.
Mr Picciani also said that holding the Games in the winter month of August should help keep the number of mosquitoes, and Zika risk, low.
Several athletes have said they are concerned about travelling to Rio because of Zika.
Mr Picciani said he was "convinced" that athletes would be safe. "All the mechanism of prevention and protection are guaranteed," he said.
He also said that of the 7,000 athletes who had taken part in 43 sporting test events between last July and this April, none had contracted Zika.
"I would say to any athlete, to any visitor planning on coming to Rio, you do not have to worry, Rio and Brazil have prepared for this moment."
Ms Rousseff is facing an impeachment trial in the coming months in the Senate. If two-thirds of the Senators find her guilty, she will be removed from office permanently. If not, she will resume her presidency.
Asked if Ms Rousseff would attend the Games' opening ceremony - once expected to be the highlight of her second term in office - Mr Picciani said: "President Michel Temer will certainly be there at the opening.
"As for other officials, that's up to the organiser, the Olympic Committee, but Mr Temer will be there as the person accredited as the leader of the country."


Leicestershire have signed South Africa all-rounder Farhaan Behardien as cover for Umar Akmal in the T20 Blast.

Berhardien, 32, will be eligible for their final six group games, while Pakistan all-rounder Akmal is playing in the Caribbean Premier League.
The 32-year-old has played 71 times in limited-overs cricket for the Proteas.
The Foxes had originally signed batsman Rilee Roussouw, 26, as Malik's replacement, but he suffered a shoulder injury fielding for South Africa.
Leicestershire are sixth in their T20 Blast group, one point outside the top four having won two of their opening six games.


The government should not discount the impact of living in a disadvantaged area on poor pupils' educational chances during the shake-up in school funding, an education charity says.

A Sutton Trust report says attending a school dominated by poor pupils or living in a poor area can harm results.
Ministers are expected to publish plans on "fairer funding" for England's schools soon after the Spending Review.
The government says it wants to ensure that all areas are funded justly.
The report analysed data on the sixth-form qualification patterns of 3,172 children in five regions of England who would have been sitting their A-levels, if they were taking them, in 2014.
The report, by Oxford University academics, found the poorest children - those on free school meals - were three times less likely to take three or more A-levels than other students.
White boys from disadvantaged backgrounds did the worst, and among those from poor neighbourhoods some 71% did not continue their academic education after GCSEs.
This compared with 55% of the poorest boys living in more affluent areas not going on to further academic study after GCSE.
Additionally, students from a secondary school with a more disadvantaged intake were also less likely to take A-levels.
As of this year, youngsters are required to stay in education, employment or training after they complete their GCSE year. Some may choose an academic route, while others may go for a vocational course.
Campaigners for what they say will be a "fairer funding" formula for schools argue that the distribution of school grants via local authorities unduly favours those in inner city and urban areas.
They say schools in more rural areas, but still with pockets of disadvantage, are losing out.
In a parliamentary debate last week, former Education Select Committee chairman Graham Stuart quoted figures suggesting the 10 best-funded areas had received an average grant of £6,300 per pupil this year, compared with an average of £4,200 per pupil for the 10 most poorly-funded areas.
For a typical secondary school of 920 students, this equated to a budget difference of £1.9m between the best and worst-funded areas, enough to pay the total costs - salaries and pension contributions - of 40 full-time teachers, he said.
Proposals for a fairer funding formula being drawn up by government are designed to address the differences in funding levels between areas based on historic factors.
It was promised by the coalition government in 2011 but has been delayed because of the complexities of the system.
The Sutton Trust report, Background to Success, said: "In the context of creating a fairly funded system, government should also consider the external effects that may combine to compound the effects on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, including place poverty (living in neighbourhoods with high proportions of poor children, attending schools serving higher proportions of disadvantaged pupils) gender and ethnicity."
It adds: "As the government reviews the funding system, including the historic extra resources in such areas, it will be important to recognise the impact of 'double disadvantage' - the way living in a poor neighbourhood can compound the effects of family disadvantage."
But Mr Stuart said: "A deprived secondary school pupil in York who receives the pupil premium - worth fully £935 this year - still has less spent on his or her education than an equivalent pupil in Birmingham who isn't eligible for the pupil premium.
"The principle that pupils with similar characteristics and similar needs should receive similar funding, regardless of where they live, should be uncontroversial.
"It cannot be right that some authorities receive 70% higher funding than others.
"I was very pleased to hear the minister's announcement that we can expect proposals for consultation very shortly - schools in my home area of the East Riding have had to struggle with the consequences of the current unfair system for far too long."
A Department for Education spokesman said: "Too many young people still aren't being given a fair shot to succeed because of where they live, which is why our education reforms are focused on delivering educational excellence everywhere.
"We are ensuring schools are fairly funded and have already maintained per pupil funding and provided an extra £390m to the least fairly funded areas."
The spokesman added that the details of future investment decisions could not be revealed until after this month's spending review.


Britain's Andy Murray plays Canada's Milos Raonic on Friday for a place in Sunday's Australian Open final.

Four-time runner-up Murray is  attempting to reach his fifth final in Melbourne, where Novak Djokovic awaits.
Big-serving Raonic, the 13th seed, is chasing a spot in his first Grand Slam final having seen off Frenchman Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals.
Murray, 28, and Raonic, 25, have played each other eight times on Tour, with honours even.
Full commentary on the match is available on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 08:30 GMT, with television highlights following on BBC Two at 14:00 GMT.
By his own admission, Murray has struggled to keep his mind on the job in Melbourne, despite advancing to the last four of the season's first major.
The world number two's father-in-law, Nigel Sears, collapsed earlier in the tournament, while his wife Kim is heavily pregnant back home in Britain.
Murray shrugged off the distractions to beat tough Spaniard David Ferrer in four sets in the quarter-finals but Raonic, who is in the form of his career, could pose a bigger threat.
Raonic, who reached the last four at Wimbledon in 2014, has long been tipped as the next big thing and under new coach Carlos Moya, he might be about to deliver on his promise.
The 6ft 5in Canadian was once written off as one-dimensional. However, he beat 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the fourth round using aggressive serve-and-volley tactics.
Roger Federer, who lost to Djokovic in their semi-final on Thursday, was certainly impressed by Raonic's improvement after losing to him in the final of the Brisbane International earlier this month.
"For a big guy he moves well," said 17-time major winner Federer. "He's improved his fitness the last few years. Also, tactically he's better now than he's ever been."
Murray versus Raonic promises to be an intriguing clash of styles, with power player Raonic pitted against one of the game's best returners and defenders.
Also one of the game's finest passers, Murray will be keen to test Raonic's commitment to coming into the net early in the match.
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Murray's experience could count for a great deal, but Raonic has given notice this month that a maiden Grand Slam final may not be that far away.
He beat Roger Federer to win the title in Brisbane, and has knocked out the 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka en route to the last four in Melbourne.
His serve has found a pleasing groove and his net play is hugely advanced, having decided to dedicate much more time in practice to it.
But Murray played very well in the final two sets of his quarter-final victory over Ferrer and has won four of his five previous Australian Open semi-finals.


Credit unions across Scotland say they are keeping local community banking alive, despite the collapse of the Airdrie Savings Bank.

Founded in 1835, the last survivor of Britain's independent savings banks will soon be closing its doors for the last time.
It said this week it was preparing for "a phased end" to business activities.
The news came even though the bank has always been embedded in life for many local people.
"When I started at school there was a saving scheme within the school, organised by the Airdrie Savings Bank," says Hamilton solicitor John Stirling.
He smiles as he remembers taking half a crown (two shillings and sixpence or 12.5p) a week into his primary school, back in the early 1950s.
"The teacher would collect the money, mark up a card, and the janitor took the money along to the local branch at lunchtime."
That wasn't the end of his family links to what many in the area always called "Knox's bank", in memory of a family firmly linked to the early history of the institution.
Mr Stirling explains: "When my first child was born the Airdrie Savings Bank had a scheme whereby, if you opened an account in the name of the child, they would contribute one pound instantly.
"And a pound was worth something in those days."
And he's been a business customer of the bank too. "It was regarded as being OUR bank", he says.
"We had a manager we could talk to in the branch. You could speak to him, or her. And it was a comfortable relationship."
So, if that's the case, why has the savings bank had to close?
Prof Charles Munn has written a history of the Airdrie Savings Bank. And a biography of the Rev Henry Duncan, the Dumfriesshire minister who's credited with founding the global savings bank movement in the 19th Century.
"Since the financial crisis there's been a lot of new regulations coming in. Indeed, a lot of new regulators," he says.
"To the extent that the rules and regulations have become far more stringent, far more expensive, to enforce. In a sense the Airdrie Savings Bank has been punished for the bad behaviour of the big boys."
And he cites one instance that sums that trend up for him: "In the early years of this century, regulators demanded information from Airdrie Savings Bank about its international exposure. And, of course, it didn't have any.
"That was just a measure of how little the regulators really understood about that kind of bank."
But he says there was another factor.
"Running a bank is expensive. You know, lots of charges to be paid. And Airdrie was no exception to that because as a member of the Link system, that allows you to get money out of other banks' ATMs.
"That's a very expensive thing to belong to. But you really have to belong to it."
So customers have become more demanding - no longer happy with a simple savings account. Now we want credit and debit cards, car loans, housing improvement loans and mortgages.
But there is another, sometimes over-looked, part of the financial sector which claims to be keeping the flame alive - credit unions.
Firmly rooted in their community - either geographically, or through shared interests or employment. Not flashy. Almost boring. But simple. No complicated derivatives, or financial instruments.
The Association of British Credit Unions Limited in Scotland says the success of the sector here proves that local banking is "very much alive and well".
It says almost 100 credit unions are providing accounts and loans to more than 387,000 people, giving Scotland the fourth highest level of credit union membership in Europe.
Frank McKillop, the association's spokesman in Scotland, says: "Especially with the global financial crash there was a perception widely that banks had, perhaps, lost sight of the needs of customers and were being run in the interests of investors and shareholders.
"So I think there is a broad demand for more simple financial products. There is an attraction to a straightforward savings account where you know exactly what you're getting.
"And there's an appeal to straightforward loan products where you know exactly what the interest rate is, and no terms and conditions that are designed - or feel designed - to trip you up."
But he accepts that credit unions may be subject to the same pressures that will ultimately drive the Airdrie Savings Bank out of the market.
So he says the association is working with credit unions across Scotland, and the rest of Great Britain, to develop infrastructure that the individual unions by themselves will never be big enough to offer.
And he argues that, although there must be regulation of the sector, that regulation should be "proportionate".
He explains: "It must be proportionate to the scale of an organisation; to the business model; to the risk that institution takes; and the risks that institution's failure would pose to the wider economy.
"And, in fairness to the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Bank of England, they have always engaged with us, because they see the benefits of a diverse financial sector, and the benefits of a thriving co-operative and credit union sector."


Google has agreed to pay the largest fine ever imposed on a single company by the US Federal Trade Commission.

The firm agreed to pay $22.5m (Â£14.4m) after monitoring web surfers using Apple's Safari browser who had a "do not track" privacy setting selected.
Google does not have to admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
The penalty is for misrepresenting what it was doing and not for the methods it used to bypass Safari's tracker cookie settings.
Cookies are small text files that are installed onto a computer that can allow it to be identified so that a user's web activity can be monitored.
"No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a statement.
The government agency launched its inquiry after a Stanford University researcher noticed the issue while studying targeted advertising.
Cookies are small files that allow a website to recognise and track users. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office classes them according to three overlapping groups:
Session cookies
Files that allow a site to link the actions of a visitor during a single browser session. These might be used by an internet bank or webmail service. They are not stored long term and are considered "less privacy intrusive" than persistent cookies.
Persistent cookies
These remain on the user's device between sessions and allow one or several sites to remember details about the visitor. They may be used by marketers to target advertising or to avoid the user having to provide a password each visit.
First and third-party cookies
A cookie is classed as being first-party if it is set by the site being visited. It might be used to study how people navigate a site.
It is classed as third-party if it is issued by a different server to that of the domain being visited. It could be used to trigger a banner advert based on the visitor's viewing habits.
He revealed that the search giant was exploiting a loophole that let its cookies be installed via adverts on popular websites, even if users' browsers' preferences had been set to reject them.
This allowed the firm to track people's web-use habits even if they had not given it permission to do so.
Google said no "personal information" - such as names or credit card data - had been collected, and that the action had been inadvertent.
Apple's browser automatically rejects tracking cookies by default. But Google got around this block by adding code to some of its adverts to make Safari think that the user had made an exception for its cookie if they interacted with the ad.
At the same time as using the exploit the search giant said on its help centre that Safari users did not need to take extra steps to prevent their online activities from being logged.
Google said the workaround had been employed to help it deploy its +1 button - letting users show their approval for something on the web - a feature it introduced for its Google+ social network.
"We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users," said a spokesman.
"The FTC is focused on a 2009 help centre page published more than two years before our consent decree, and a year before Apple changed its cookie-handling policy.
"We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers."
But Nick Pickles, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said it was right that Google should be penalised.
"It's an essential part of a properly functioning market that consumers are in control of their personal information and are able to take steps to protect their privacy," he said.
"The size of the fine in this case should deter any company from seeking to exploit underhand means of tracking consumers. It is essential that anyone who seeks to over-ride consumer choices about sharing their data is held to account."


Health is arguably the most important issue for many voters at next week's Welsh Assembly election.

BBC Wales has asked some of the main medical and health organisations to give an examination to the parties' manifestos and give their critique of their policies.
Here is the dissection of the Welsh Liberal Democrats' manifesto:
The Royal College of Physicians welcomed commitments to:
However, it was concerned:
The RCN, which represents 25,000 nurses in Wales,  said the manifesto matches its own Time To Care campaign priorities in the following:
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The BMA represents 8,000 doctors in Wales.
Like
We will require health impact assessments (HIA) on policy decisions taken at all levels.
Legislating for mandatory HIAs would provide a significant contribution to improving the health and well-being of communities throughout Wales, at the same time as positioning Wales as a world leader in the application of public health policy.
When they have been undertaken, HIAs have helped to structure a systematic and objective approach to the development of certain plans, policies and projects in Wales. They have been successfully used to identify ways in which health benefits can be maximised and health risks minimised as schemes or policies have been taken forward.
HIAs have been successfully used to identify health inequalities, specifically in vulnerable groups, producing evidence-based recommendations for health improvement as well as identifying any gaps in service provision or delivery.
Their use has already proved that HIAs need not be overly burdensome. The first stage in the process can be a simple screening tool which determines whether an HIA would both be valuable and feasible within a particular decision-making context.
Dislike
We will abolish Public Health Wales and transfer responsibility and funding for public health to local government.
The transfer of public health to local authorities in England has led to considerable anxiety and chaos, both in terms of the immediate disruptive effects of the overhaul and in terms of concerns about the future of public health.
Considerable uncertainty remains over the present and future state of the workforce. Medical professionals are much less likely to want to work for local authorities. There are two main reasons for this: doctors perceive a lack of support for their skill set; they believe local authorities are likely to want to employ non-medical professionals for budgetary reasons.
BMA members in England report that several local authorities are reducing public health teams or implementing unfavourable terms and conditions for medical staff, making working in councils less attractive.
RCPCH is responsible for training and examining paediatricians and has more than 600 members in Wales.
It welcomed:
It is concerned:
The other responses can be found here:


Coventry City have signed striker Maxime Biamou from National League side Sutton United for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old scored 14 times for Sutton last season and was part of the side that reached the FA Cup fifth round, when they lost to Arsenal.
He has signed a two-year deal with Mark Robins' side as they prepare for League Two after relegation last term.
"He provides an important different option to the attacking threats which we currently have," said Robins.
"He is a raw talent with pace, power and aggression, and is also good in the air. We look forward to working with him and developing his ability further."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Rotherham took a huge step towards retaining their Championship status by thrashing relegation rivals MK Dons.

Matt Derbyshire struck in the first minute before Leon Best scored from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Cody Cropper brought down Richard Wood.
The visitors confirmed their dominance through Kirk Broadfoot's header and Richard Smallwood's neat finish.
Rotherham, 21st place in the table, moved nine points clear of MK Dons, who remain third bottom.
The atmosphere inside Stadium MK was tense before kick-off, but almost immediately the Rotherham fans were celebrating as Derbyshire opened the scoring.
Best then slammed home from the spot, and it was no surprise when Broadfoot and Smallwood put the game beyond MK Dons just after the break.
Ex-Miller Alex Revell almost pulled one back for the hosts, but Rotherham easily held on.
Despite languishing in the relegation zone in mid-February, Neil Warnock, Rotherham's third manager of the season, has turned his side's fortunes around, winning six of his 11 league games in charge.
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson:
"It's extremely difficult and very hard and the odds are stacked against us. We only have ourselves to blame.
"You get that tag of losing football matches and it's so hard to shift. You have to find it from somewhere to cope with the demands of this level.
"We were the better team in between the two boxes by far, (but) we are not as good as other teams in the boxes, it's as simple as that.
"I don't think it's fair to boo me individually, I don't agree with that. Collectively we have to take responsibility. "
Rotherham manager Neil Warnock:
"It was an important game but I thought it was a comprehensive victory.
"We started well with the goal and we couldn't have got off to a better start. We missed a few chances in the second half, but we can't get too greedy.
"It just goes to show what you can do with a good group who want to listen.
"I think they are amazing themselves with the ability they have and what they can do with the ball. It's a great time and we are enjoying ourselves."


At least 16 people have died in the Pakistani city of Lahore after drinking what police say was toxic cough syrup.

The factory producing the medicine has been sealed, and three people have been arrested, including a distributor of the medicine.
The deaths occurred between Friday and Sunday. Police say they were mostly drug addicts in Shahdra town area.
Cough syrup, which is sold as an over-the-counter medicine, is sometimes used by addicts to get high, police say.
"Some of the victims were found dead in a graveyard where addicts used to take different kind of drugs," local police chief Atif Zulfiqar told AFP news agency.
The chief minister of Punjab province has ordered an inquiry to submit a report to him within 72 hours.
The provincial health authority raided several pharmacies and seized stocks of the syrup - media reports say the medicine was not past its expiry date.
Samples of the medicine have been sent for testing. Doctors told the BBC those who died may have added something to the syrup, to increase their high.
In January more than 100 people died after taking contaminated heart medicine in Lahore.
The deaths were directly linked to a batch of faulty drugs given to cardiac patients at a government-run hospital.
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says the sale of sub-standard and expired medicine is a common problem in Pakistan.


European 800m silver medallist Lynsey Sharp could be upgraded to gold after Russian champion Yelena Arzhakova received a two-year doping ban.

The Briton ran a personal best in Helsinki in June but finished 2.01 seconds behind winner Arzhakova.
Sharp, 22, said on Twitter: "Just woken up to the news I will be upgraded to European champion from last year as a result of Arzhakova's ban.
"It makes me sick that I was denied the opportunity to do a lap of honour."
The 23-year-old Arshakova has 45 days to appeal against her ban.
There is a bit of anger there at missing out on a place on top of the podium to someone who has now failed drug tests
Of Sharp's possible gold, Nigel Holl, chief executive of scottishathletics, said: "We are delighted she will now be recognised as a European champion.
"It is another boost for Lynsey's career and a reward for last summer when she won the UK Champs, did so well a few days later in Finland and represented Team GB and NI at the London 2012 Olympics."
Arshakova was banned following an "abnormal haemoglobin profile in her biological passport". Should the Russian fail with her appeal or decide against challenging her suspension, scottishathletics could host a proper medal ceremony for Sharp, possibly at their annual awards dinner in the autumn.
"You always feel more than a little sorry for athletes in these circumstances, because the very nature of testing afterwards and retrospective bans means they are denied that wonderful and deserved moment of glory standing on top of the podium," said Holl.
"We would love to be involved in any formal presentation to Lynsey of a gold medal by European Athletics and make that as grand and as fitting an occasion as possible."
Despite her performance in Helsinki, Sharp had been a controversial pick for Team GB for London 2012.
She was chosen ahead of Jemma Simpson, Marilyn Okoro, Emma Jackson and Jenny Meadows despite failing to record the Olympic qualifying time.
She reached the semi-finals but fell short of qualifying for a final in which Arzhakova finished sixth. The gold medal was won by Russia's Mariya Savinova.
Sharp, who is training in the United States, was informed of Arshakova's ban in a telephone call from mum Carol.
"She just broke down in floods of tears," said her mother. "It is nice, yes, but there is a bit of anger there at missing out on a place on top of the podium to someone who has now failed drug tests.
"It might be the only chance she ever has to top a podium at a major international event like the European Championships.
"It may not - we don't know that yet - but you do feel bitter that you have been robbed of that moment.
"One good thing is there is no European Championship this year, so at least she is the champion now until they are held again in 2014. That's a bit of a consolation."
The Russian athletics federation (VFLA) has also handed a 10-year suspension to Olympic discus silver medallist Darya Pishchalnikova after she failed a drugs test for the second time.
A sample taken from the 27-year-old in May was re-tested and proved positive for the anabolic steroid oxandrolone, the VFLA said on its website.
The VFLA annulled all of Pishchalnikova's results from 20 May 2012, meaning she is set to lose her London Olympic medal.
She had already served a doping ban from July 2008 to April 2011.


A woman has died and two people were injured when a Land Rover left the road and hit shoppers in Guildford town centre.

Surrey Police said the 4x4 struck a group of pedestrians in Bridge Street at about 13:30 GMT.
A woman in her 30s was pronounced dead at the scene, officers said. Police have informed her family.
Another pedestrian, a man in his 40s, has suffered serious pelvic injuries and been taken to hospital in London.
Police said a third pedestrian, a woman in her 30s, had minor injuries.
The Land Rover Defender driver, a man in his 40s, has been taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital with what are thought to be minor injuries.
The road is expected to remain closed for several hours and drivers and pedestrians are being advised to avoid the area.
Matty Wilson, who lives in a flat overlooking the scene, said he could see several police cars blocking the road.
He said the 4x4 had been covered from view and passers-by were standing and watching.
"I could see it was a major accident," he said. "A number of pedestrians were involved."
Mr Wilson said the emergency services were still at the scene at about 16:00 GMT.
BBC reporter Adrian Harms, who is at the scene, said details of what happened remained unclear.
He said the road had been completely sealed off, with traffic around Guildford "largely gridlocked" and the town centre in "chaos", but Bridge Street reopened after 17:00 GMT.
Police remained at the scene and green screen had been erected around the crash site, he added.


A long-running bid to build an internet data centre in southern Scotland looks set to seek a further time extension to its planning consent.

The plans at Peelhouses Farm north of Lockerbie first surfaced in late 2008.
They were granted planning permission in principle in 2010 which was extended by a further three years in 2013.
Now developers have indicated they intend to seek more time for work to start and also look at carrying it out on a phased basis.
The scheme first emerged about seven-and-a-half years ago with the promise of an Â£800m investment and the creation of thousands of jobs.
It pledged to turn the site into an "international hub for the internet age".
Initially the scheme also included a major housing development but those proposals were subsequently dropped.
The latest plans include a data centre, technology park, horticultural research facility and visitor centre.
Consultants WYG have contacted Dumfries and Galloway Council on behalf of planning firm Blackmores to discuss extending the time limit on permission for the scheme which would currently run out later this year.


Welsh schools are struggling to deal with the number of students self-harming, two major teaching unions say.

More students than ever are deliberately hurting themselves according to the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) and Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
In Wales, 1,542 10 to 19-year-olds were admitted to hospital after self-harming in 2013/14.
The Welsh government has been asked to comment.
The number of hospital admissions for 10 to 19-year-olds rose by 36% from 1,134 in 2012/13.
Caroline Kolek, a secondary school teacher and spokeswoman for the ATL said there was a lack of support in schools due to funding cuts: "My experience in schools and talking to colleagues is that we are seeing a rise in self harm, predominantly among girls but also among boys as well.
Dr Max Davie, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said the figures were "very worrying".


Northamptonshire have signed seam bowler Nathan Buck on a three-year deal after he agreed an early release from his contract with Lancashire.

The 25-year-old moved to the Red Rose from Leicestershire in September 2014 and played 19 games in two seasons.
He was restricted by injury in his first campaign, but took a T20 career-best 4-26 against Birmingham this term.
The former England Lions player has picked up 158 first-class wickets at an average of 38.52.
"I'm excited at the prospect of being able to play for a club like Northamptonshire," he told the club website.
"They are a strong, tight-knit side that have done exceptionally well this season; I can't wait to be a part of it."
Meanwhile, Northants will play South Africa on 21 May next year in a warm-up game for the tourists' three-match One-Day International series against England.


Maria Sharapova's two-year doping ban has been reduced to 15 months following her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The five-time Grand Slam winner, 29, was initially banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.
The Russian will be able to return to the tennis court on 26 April, 2017.
"I am counting the days until I can return," she said.
"In so many ways, I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back. Tennis is my passion and I have missed it."
Meldonium, a heart disease drug also known as mildronate, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016.
Sharapova said she had been taking the drug since 2006 for health problems and had "not tried to use a performance-enhancing substance".
She said she was unaware the drug had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) banned list and could not "accept" the "unfairly harsh" ban.
The Cas panel said it found Sharapova's case "was not about an athlete who cheated", adding she was not an "intentional doper".
However, it said Sharapova was at fault for not giving her agent "adequate instructions" about Wada's prohibited list.
The tribunal ruling said Sharapova tested positive for meldonium after her Australian Open quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams on 26 January and in an out-of-competition test on 2 February.
Cas treated both results as a single anti-doping violation.
Sharapova won the Wimbledon singles title as a 17-year-old in 2004, going on to win the Australian, French and US Opens to complete a career Grand Slam.
However, she has not played professional tennis since losing to 22-time Grand Slam champion Williams.
"I've gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March when I learned about my suspension to now, one of my happiest days," she said.
"I have taken responsibility from the very beginning for not knowing that the over-the-counter supplement I had been taking for the last 10 years was no longer allowed.
"But I also learned how much better other federations were at notifying their athletes of the rule change, especially in Eastern Europe where mildronate is commonly taken by millions of people.
"Now that this process is over, I hope the ITF and other relevant tennis anti-doping authorities will study what these other federations did, so that no other tennis player will have to go through what I went through."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Sharapova appealed against the original two-year ban on the grounds there was "no significant fault or negligence" on her part.
The Cas panel accepted her claim of no significant fault, saying she had a reduced perception of the risk she was incurring by taking mildronate.
That was because:
Cas said the sanction should be reduced to 15 months "based on its analysis of Sharapova's degree of fault".
It said Sharapova "fell short" because:
The panel added an athlete cannot "simply delegate her obligations to a third party and then not otherwise provide appropriate instructions, monitoring or supervision without bearing responsibility".
Sharapova can return to action before the French Open in May 2017 because her ban is backdated to the date of her first positive test on 26 January, 2016.
But with her world ranking dropping to 95 since her last appearance - and going to fall further - she will need to be awarded a wildcard to play at Roland Garros.
Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent
"The crux of the matter is that Cas decided it was reasonable for Sharapova to delegate her anti-doping duties to Max Eisenbud and the IMG agency, even if, on this occasion, those duties were not exercised with remotely enough care.
"In the past three years, both Marin Cilic and Viktor Troicki have also successfully argued less blame should be laid at their door.
"Cas has repeatedly set a player's bar of responsibility lower than the ITF thinks it should be. As a result, there must be a concern some players may in future take anti-doping less seriously than they should."
Racquet manufacturer Head, which extended its contract with Sharapova despite her positive test, congratulated her after the ban was reduced.
The company's chief executive, Johan Eliasch, said "justice had been served" and called the original  ITF decision "wholly unfair".
Nike suspended its relationship with Sharapova in March, before saying it would stand by her following the tribunal's findings in June.
Car manufacturer Porsche said it would wait to see the outcome of her appeal, while Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer cut ties with her in March.
Sharapova was the highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years according to Forbes, until Williams moved above her this year.
The latest Forbes figures have Sharapova's winnings and endorsements at £17.1m, compared with £22.6m for Williams.
Alexander Zhukov, the head of Russia's National Olympic Committee, said: "I hope Maria recovers and joins the world tennis elite and competes in the Tokyo Games. I sincerely wish her sporting longevity."
Michael Verzhba from the Russian Tennis Federation, added: "We are satisfied with the decision. The court considered that it was not intentional breach of Wada regulations and that she confessed and repented."
WTA chief executive Steve Simon said: "We are pleased the process is now at completion and we can look forward to seeing Maria back on court in 2017."
Former British professional Anne Keothavong, now a tennis pundit for BT Sport,  tweeted: "I just don't know what to think or believe anymore. Except, there's nothing to celebrate whichever way you look at it."


More than 200 schools built in Scotland under private finance initiative (PFI) schemes are now at least partially owned by offshore investment funds.

Under PFI, the private sector builds and manages school buildings in return for a fee, typically over 25-30 years.
In one project in Edinburgh, 17 new schools were built, with the council paying Â£1.5m a month.
Analysis for the BBC found there had been 13 trades involving equity in the Edinburgh schools scheme since 2001.
Although published data does not confirm the exact number of PFI schools owned wholly or partly offshore, it is clear they represent the vast majority.
Stakes in PFI building projects can be sold. They can then be traded on the secondary market to become parts of larger investment funds and pensions, as the monthly fees paid by councils provide a steady income.
Dexter Whitfield, from the European Services Strategy Unit, told a BBC Scotland investigation the Edinburgh PPP1 scheme was now owned by four different companies.
"Those four different companies are located offshore in Guernsey and Jersey, and they are basically controlled by shareholders," he said.
A critic of PFI, he has described the projects as "wealth machines", adding: "There are an awful lot of people making very substantial sums of money out of it."
The 17 schools built in Edinburgh under PPP1  were closed for repairs earlier this year after construction faults were found.
The problems - with wall and header ties, used to hold exterior and interior walls together and attach them to the rest of the building -  first became apparent when part of a wall at Oxgangs Primary fell during stormy weather.
About 7,600 primary and secondary school children in the capital were eventually affected.
An independent inquiry into the matter will consider whether the private finance method contributed to the structural issues with the buildings.
2,544
state schools in Scotland
350 PFI schools (estimated)
277 owned at least partly offshore
80% owned at least partly offshore
The City of Edinburgh Council said the schools would be safe and well-maintained for as long as the contract is in place.
Andrew Kerr, the chief executive of City of Edinburgh Council, said the terms of the contract ensured that schools are kept in a good condition.
"That's something that was decided 10, 15 years ago. Our job is to make sure we manage that contract going forward as well as it can be," he added.
There are 93 PFI projects in Scotland - responsible for hundreds of schools, road, hospitals and energy projects - and worth more than Â£6bn.


Welsh flyweight Andrew Selby is certain he will be ready for a shot at a world title after just 10 professional bouts.

Selby, who turns 27 on Christmas Day, won his second professional fight on Saturday with a second-round stoppage of unbeaten Hungarian Jozsef Ajtai.
The Barry boxer has a sparkling amateur record and wants to be fast-tracked into the elite level in the paid ranks.
"The more I fight the better I perform so hopefully I'll be out again in December," he told Channel 5.
"Hopefully I can break records - win a British title, then maybe go for a European or world title straight away.
"It's very realistic, that's the plan. After 10 fights I want to go for a world title."
Selby's older brother, Lee, fought 21 times before getting a world title shot, beating Evgeny Gradovich in May this year to claim the IBF world featherweight title.
Wales' 12th world champion was in the crowd in Bristol as his brother looked a class apart by overwhelming 18-year-old Ajtai, who arrived with a 10-fight unbeaten record.
The referee spared the teenager from any more punishment towards the end of the second round as Selby landed with a succession of heavy combinations and faced nothing in return.
"I thought we was going to come steaming in at me because he was a smaller guy but as soon as I landed a jab he knew I was too strong for him," said Selby, who is already ranked the fourth best British flyweight.
"He went on the back foot and wasn't throwing any punches."
With two European Championship gold medals (2011 and 2013) and a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, Selby is classed as Wales' most successful amateur boxer.
He can also boast an unbeaten 10-fight record in the World Series of Boxing, a professional competition open to amateurs, and is convinced he is destined to be a world champion.
"I think I can do it," he said.
"I think I've got all the talent in the world.  I've just got to keep the dedication and train hard."


A baby who was born 12 weeks prematurely in order for her mother to be treated for cancer has died.

Heidi Loughlin, 32, discovered she had a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer after falling pregnant with her third child.
Ally Louise Smith was born by C-section on 11 December weighing just 2lb 5oz but died on Saturday.
Ms Loughlin, from Portishead, north Somerset posted a poem dedicated to her daughter on her blog.
In it, the Metropolitan Police officer wrote: "Yesterday afternoon our hearts broke in two. For we had to say goodbye to you."
She added that "the pain in my body and heart and my soul feels it will consume me and leave me un-whole".
Doctors discovered Ms Loughlin's cancer in September after she noticed a rash on her breast while feeding her baby son Tait.
She was given the option of terminating the pregnancy so she could begin aggressive chemotherapy.
But she decided to keep her baby and begin a less aggressive form of treatment which is expected to start on Wednesday.
Writing on her blog after Ally's birth, the mother-of-three said she was "absolutely thrilled" to announce the baby had been born safely.
"She was born today via c section at 1237. She came out foot first and is breathing on her own. She weighs 2lb 5ozs. She has a Laughlin (sic) nose and she has more hair than me!!!"


Mobile phone operator EE is to create 60 new jobs at its call centre in Merthyr Tydfil.

The firm, which is owned by BT, said the extra roles follow a move to base all customer service calls in the UK and Ireland.
More than 800 people already work at its Rhyd-y-Car Business Park site.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said it was "excellent news for the local economy".


Proposals for six wind turbines near Charminster have been rejected by the district council.

Residents had previously criticised the plans and a report to West Dorset District Council said they would bring "significant harm" to the area.
The application had been submitted by Broadview Energy Ltd.
It was for six turbines up to 70m (230ft) in height in a seven hectare site to the north west of the B3143 at Slyer's Lane near Charminster.
The council, which was recommended to refuse the application, received 2,648 objections and 678 letters of support.
Stinsford Parish Council objected as it would have "an adverse impact on the natural environment "and would be a "visual intrusion".
A report to West Dorset council said: "The proposed development in this case would result in significant harm to the setting of the Dorset Area of Outstanding Beauty, eroding its character, natural beauty and the special qualities."


A few weeks ago, social media made an overnight star of blue-eyed Pakistani tea-seller Arshad Khan.

Now a pretty Nepali vegetable seller has shot to fame as the internet's new darling.
Kusum Shrestha, 18, was photographed carrying vegetables at a local market.
When the photographer posted the shots online, the hashtags #Tarkariwali and #Sabjiwali - "vegetable seller" - quickly started trending on social media as admirers praised her looks.
Handsome Pakistani 'chai wala' turns model
Model charged over 'body-shaming' photo
Miss Shrestha comes from a farming family based in Bagling, Gorkha, some 55 miles (90km) west of the capital, Kathmandu.
She told BBC Nepali she is a student in the nearby district of Chitwan, and was helping her parents during college holidays when the snaps were taken.
In one picture, the teenager smiles as she carries crates of tomatoes over a bridge. In another, she is talking on a mobile phone while selling them at a market.
Photographer RupChandra Maharjan told a Nepalese blog, the Gundruk Post, that he photographed Miss Shrestha at the Fishling suspension bridge between Gorkha and Chitwan. He reportedly works for a company that organises rafting on the local Trishuli River.
The young woman told the BBC she had found out about the pictures from a friend.
"First my friend asked me if I am the same girl whose photos became viral on Facebook. But I didn't know," Miss Shrestha said.
"Then she sent me the pictures and when I saw them, I found it was me. On that day, I came to sell the vegetables to help my parents. When I was on my way to sell the vegetables, RupChandra (the photographer) took my picture - but at that point of time, I didn't know that I was being photographed."
Many observers on Twitter and Facebook commented on the teenager's work ethic, with one user, @SabyasachiPuhan, saying she combined "cuteness and hard work".
One fan even suggested the now-famous chai wala and Tarkari wali would make an ideal couple.
In an interview with the BBC, Miss Shrestha said she was thrilled with her newfound fame. Asked if she would like to take up modelling like tea-seller Mr Khan if the offer comes, she beamed and said: "Yes, I will go."
Her father Narayan Shrestha, 43, told Nepalese news site myrepublica.com: "I hear that her photos have become popular on the internet. Who had imagined that she would get such publicity? My daughter has always been a shy girl; she is a girl of very few words."
Mr Shrestha said his daughter was studying management, although she really wants to train as a nurse.
"She is my only child. I should educate her to the extent possible," [sic] he said. "But I also have to consider my financial situation. I could not admit her into a nursing college though she wanted to study nursing."
He told reporters he thought the interest in his daughter showed that the public respects farmers and their hard work.
"This is what I feel. There is nothing else that I expect," he added.


Eight men have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man in Cardiff city centre.

Lyn Prosser, 44, from Pontypridd, died following an incident outside O'Neill's pub in St Mary Street on Sunday night.
Police say a row broke out just after 23:00 GMT inside the pub and there was a further altercation outside.
Mr Prosser, was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, but died. The ages of the arrested men range from 24 to 48.
A forensic team from South Wales Police were taking evidence inside and outside the pub, which remained closed on Monday.
A post-mortem examination is ongoing.
Det Supt Paul Hurley said: "I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in St Mary Street at the time that may have witnessed an altercation involving a number of people outside the pub."
He added: "Our thoughts are with Mr Prosser's family at this very difficult time.
"I would urge anyone who was in the area and witnessed what happened, either inside or outside O'Neill's, to please contact us."
Police are appealing for witnesses to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A spokesman for O'Neill's in St Mary Street said: "A serious incident took place late yesterday evening.
"The police are currently investigating and we are co-operating fully."
A statement on the Beddau RFC website said: "Lyn was a huge character in the village and was well known by many from not just our community but from far and wide.
"He was a larger than life character and a friend to so many.
"He starred in the back row for both the Beddau and Llantrisant clubs and will be so sorely missed by all.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time."


David Cameron says Britain "will not and should not" turn its back on Europe as it leaves the European Union.

After discussing the vote to leave with other EU leaders, he said trade and security co-operation would be vital whatever the shape of future links.
But he said immigration was a "great concern" among UK voters and squaring this with access to the EU single market would be a "huge challenge".
Germany's Angela Merkel said the EU must "respect the result" of the vote.
But German politicians have insisted the UK cannot "cherry-pick" aspects of the EU.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chancellor Merkel said the UK must accept free movement if it wanted to retain access to the single market.
Mrs Merkel said the Brexit vote had been discussed "very intensively and deeply" at the dinner meeting with EU leaders.
"We all regretted the result and made clear that the legal procedure must be that the UK invokes Article 50.
"Mr Cameron said he would hand it over to the new government to do... we all agreed that before that point, there can be no formal or informal negotiations."
Mrs Merkel said Mr Cameron expressed how he had expected a different result in the referendum, but she added that "We are politicians; we can't spend a long time mourning".
She also said that "Publicly... we can see no way to turn this around. It's not a time for wishful thinking, but of contemplating the reality."
She added that talks would be "on the basis that we expect the representative of the UK to say what idea he has about withdrawing from the EU".
"The request to withdraw will say what sort of relationship the UK wants. But there can be no quasi-negotiations."
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the UK did not have "months to meditate" on activating Article 50, which will trigger talks on the country's withdrawal from the EU.
"If someone from the Remain camp will become British prime minister, this has to be done in two weeks after his appointment," he said.
"If the next British PM is coming from the Leave campaign, it should be done the day after his appointment."
Mr Cameron had been explaining the outcome of Britain's referendum to the EU's other 27 leaders at a meeting of the European Council, expected to be his last after he announced his intention to stand down in the wake of the Leave vote.
He told reporters the discussions had been "calm, constructive and purposeful".
He also said that "while Britain is leaving the European Union, it will not, it should not and in my view it won't turn its back on Europe".
The PM, who has said it will be up to his successor to decide how to proceed with talks on the terms of Britain's separation from the EU, said there was "universal respect" for the UK's decision to leave despite a "tone of sadness and regret".
While the EU wanted more information about the UK's negotiating plans going forward and a "clear model appearing", he said there was an acknowledgement that this would take some time and "no great clamour" for talks to begin straight away.
The prime minister warned that intransigence over freedom of movement could scupper any chance of a UK-EU trade deal with whoever takes over from him, saying there was a "very great concern" over immigration "coupled with sovereignty and the ability to control these things".
He said that he wished he had won the referendum, but it was right to hold it to try to settle the question of the UK's role in the EU.
Mr Cameron said: "You fight for what you believe - if you win, good, If you lose, you have to accept the verdict."
He also said Britain and the rest of the EU wanted to have the "closest possible" relationship as the country leaves the union.
Downing Street said his message to EU leaders was that if they want a close economic relationship with the UK after Brexit, they cannot "shy away" from the migration issue.
A government source said: "He believes that one of the key issues in the referendum campaign, and therefore why a lot of people voted to leave, is this sense that there was no control on the scale of immigration and freedom of movement. That was one of the factors."
Earlier on Tuesday, hundreds of pro-Remain supporters gathered outside Parliament to demonstrate about the consequences of Brexit.
And hundreds also turned out in Cardiff, at an event which included speeches from Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and racial equality activist Shazia Awan.
Other rallies in Manchester and Oxford were abandoned amid fears about crowd sizes, and a protest in Liverpool was postponed until next week.


Climbers Tom Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson are hoping to break a world record today by free climbing part of El Capitan.

9 January 2015 Last updated at 08:46 GMT
Adventurers visit Yosemite National Park in the United States to conquer the steep rock face.
Free climbing means Tom and Kevin will use just their hands and feet to climb, rather than pulling themselves up on ropes.
But they will be attached to a safety rope to stop them from falling.
The two climbers will try to free climb the steepest part - the Dawn Face.
Young adventurer Ella has climbed El Capitan and visited Newsround to describe her experience.


Migrant workers in Northern Ireland are "extremely vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination", according to the Equality Commission.

Migrants are having to work long hours while living in expensive and overcrowded housing, says a new report.
Catholics are waiting longer than Protestants to get social housing, and the delay has doubled since 2009, adds the report.
The commission has compiled the report based on a range of evidence.
People from minority ethnic groups are said to be vulnerable to attack and a fifth of people with disabilities live in homes which do not meet their needs, says the report.
Dr Evelyn Collins, Chief Executive of the Equality Commission, said: "Ensuring that everyone has access to a sustainable, secure home and enjoys the right to independent living, and the development of shared, safe communities are essential building blocks to a successful, flourishing Northern Ireland.
"As a society we must not ignore inequalities in this crucial area
"Unchallenged, they will continue to affect the lives of many people across Northern Ireland and the life chances of future generations."
The report found that Catholics wait an average of 15 months for social housing, compared to Protestants, who wait an average nine months.
People from what is called "other religions" waited for 13 months according to the latest figures.
It was not clear why Catholics have to wait longer, said the commission, but it pointed to the short supply of housing in certain areas.
In west Belfast, for instance, people waited an average 28 months.
In certain areas, such as north Belfast, the peace line meant that when vacant housing did become available, it could not be filled by Catholic applicants, says the report.


Hull KR prop Dane Tilse has retired so he can move back to Australia to be with his young daughter.

Tilse had initially decided to stay with Rovers after their relegation from Super League last season, and had returned to training at the club.
The 31-year-old made 48 appearances for Hull KR after signing from NRL side Canberra Raiders in April 2015.
"This is something that has weighed on my mind since I returned to Rovers after the off-season," he said.
"I had nine weeks with family and friends and I've found it tough since I've been back over here.
"My daughter has been at the forefront of my mind and I came to the realisation over the Christmas period that I need to be at home with her.
"I apologise to the club because I've messed them around by coming back over here, but it was never my intention to cause any problems."


Derby County dominated but could not find a way past Nigel Clough's gutsy Burton Albion side, who earned a point from their first game at Pride Park.

Brewers boss Clough, who was sacked by the Rams in 2013, masterminded a display that ensures the hosts slipped 10 points outside the play-off spots after three home games without a win.
Darren Bent wasted Derby's best chance, somehow shooting over from two yards.
Burton frustrated the hosts after the interval but barely threatened.
The closest they came was when former Rams attacker Luke Varney headed an effort straight at Scott Carson just after Bent's miss.
Jacob Butterfield did force a fine save from visiting keeper Jon McLaughlin after the interval, but they could not create a telling opportunity and Burton held on for a point which takes them five points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Derby County manager Steve McClaren:
"We are very disappointed with two points from three games when our home form has been excellent. We talked about a target but we've not achieved that.
"It was a yellow brick wall of four and six but I can't fault the players, we kept plugging away but it wasn't our night.
"Burton came for a draw and got it and it's been a frustrating night all round. Sometimes you can play for two days and not score and I think that was the situation tonight.
"When we came here we were fourth bottom and just dreaming of getting away and the players have done a marvellous job to go on a run, but I knew after the first three or four games this would be a frustrating season."
Burton Albion assistant boss Andy Garner:
"Proud is a bit of an understatement. It's incredible. We worked incredibly hard, we're honest enough to say we came for a point and for us to get that at Derby is absolutely unbelievable.
"That's what we are all about, honesty and hard work. We're not particularly good at times and the players will tell you that as well, but we dig deep and everybody works for each other.
"Nigel is in the dressing room, it's quite an emotional day for the gaffer. We had four magnificent years here, love the club and the fans so it's very emotional coming back for the first time and little Burton have taken four points off them so we're delighted.
"We didn't want to lose tonight, we set up for a point, worked all week training to get a point so I think it's good management really because we are going home with a point."
Match ends, Derby County 0, Burton Albion 0.
Second Half ends, Derby County 0, Burton Albion 0.
Attempt missed. David Nugent (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Darren Bent with a headed pass.
Foul by Julien de Sart (Derby County).
Lloyd Dyer (Burton Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner,  Derby County. Conceded by Lloyd Dyer.
Tom Ince (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Tom Ince (Derby County).
Tom Flanagan (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Richard Keogh (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris O'Grady (Burton Albion).
Attempt blocked. Tom Ince (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cyrus Christie.
Corner,  Derby County. Conceded by Jon McLaughlin.
Attempt saved. Tom Ince (Derby County) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by David Nugent.
Attempt missed. Marvin Sordell (Burton Albion) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Naylor.
Substitution, Burton Albion. Chris O'Grady replaces Luke Varney.
Foul by Max Lowe (Derby County).
Marvin Sordell (Burton Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner,  Derby County. Conceded by Luke Varney.
David Nugent (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Lasse Vigen Christensen (Burton Albion).
Foul by Cyrus Christie (Derby County).
Matthew Palmer (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Derby County. David Nugent replaces Will Hughes.
Offside, Burton Albion. Tom Flanagan tries a through ball, but Luke Varney is caught offside.
Offside, Derby County. Alex Pearce tries a through ball, but Darren Bent is caught offside.
Tom Naylor (Burton Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Abdoul Camara (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Tom Naylor (Burton Albion).
Attempt missed. Lloyd Dyer (Burton Albion) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Tom Ince (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jacob Butterfield.
Tom Ince (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Luke Murphy (Burton Albion).
Attempt blocked. Abdoul Camara (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jacob Butterfield.
Attempt blocked. Jacob Butterfield (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Will Hughes.
Attempt blocked. Julien de Sart (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Lowe.
Corner,  Derby County. Conceded by Marvin Sordell.
Substitution, Derby County. Abdoul Camara replaces Ikechi Anya.
Substitution, Burton Albion. Marvin Sordell replaces Cauley Woodrow.
Attempt missed. Tom Ince (Derby County) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jacob Butterfield.


Six Nations chief executive John Feehan says Wales have been denied closing the Principality Stadium roof during the tournament in the belief that it gives them an advantage.

Wales asked organisers for permission to play all their home games under the tournament's only retractable roof but were turned down.
"They approached us, but that obviously wasn't acceptable to all the other unions," said Feehan.
"We run the competition by consensus."
The roof could still be closed for Wales' home matches against England and Ireland but would need permission from the away sides.
"What we are doing is staying with existing protocols, which basically say if both teams agree conditions demand they want to close the roof, or both teams want to close the roof anyway, that's fine," Feehan told BBC Radio Wales' Jason Mohammad show.
"But what we can't do is allow any one individual team an inherent or underlying advantage.
"The other unions perceive it to be an advantage for Wales given they could play all their games under the roof given they understand it (the conditions).
"These games are won on any tight margins anyway. It's a case of everyone wanting a level playing pitch."
Feehan said rugby union is a sport that should take place in "different weather conditions", adding: "It's not necessarily always going to be a sunny day like you would like it to be.
"Sometimes the weather conditions can have an effect on the game and that's not necessarily a bad thing.""
Listen to the John Feehan interview on BBC Radio Wales' Jason Mohammad show on Monday, 30 January from 09:00 GMT.


Former Brentford manager Steve Perryman says the Bees should take giant-killing inspiration from League Two side Bradford City's run to the Capital One Cup final when they face European champions Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

"Bradford are a shining light to all lower division teams," Perryman, a two-time FA Cup winner during a 17-year Tottenham career, told BBC Sport. "To beat three Premier League sides, whatever teams they picked, gives everyone hope."
Exeter's director of football was in charge of the Bees when they faced the might of Liverpool the last time they reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1989.
Brentford have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals four times, the last occasion being in the 1988-89 season when they were beaten 4-0 by reigning Division One champions Liverpool at Anfield.
Martin Allen guided the Bees to FA Cup fifth-round appearances in 2005 and 2006 where they lost to Premier League sides Southampton, after a replay, and Charlton Athletic.
This is the first season in six since that Brentford have got beyond the third round - and in all but one of the other seasons, they have not even got that far.
Chelsea and Brentford have only met once before in the FA Cup, with the Blues winning the tie in 1950 by a 1-0 scoreline.
The Bees beat a Premier League team on their last appearance in the fourth round, overcoming bottom of the table Sunderland 2-1 in 2006.
Charlton 3-1 Brentford
A Reds side with John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, Steve McMahon, Ronnie Whelan and Ray Houghton at the peak of their powers ultimately cruised to a 4-0 win at Anfield,
But Perryman's Bees, then, like now, a side in the third tier of English football, had their opportunities early on and he was proud of the way his team handled themselves and the occasion.
"I think Richard Cadette had two good chances," said Perryman, who skippered Spurs to their FA Cup wins over Manchester City and QPR in 1981 and 1982.
"Of course I am a bit biased, and maybe a quarter or a half-chance becomes three quarters of a chance - but we could easily have gone ahead.
"I always thought the first goal was so vital. Liverpool were a great side but I felt they could be vulnerable early on and could be slow starters.
"We had the first chance early on but didn't take it, and although we didn't live with them in the end, we didn't go there to defend and gave it a really good go."
Giving it a good go is exactly what Perryman feels Uwe Rosler's League One promotion hopefuls need to do against an under-pressure Chelsea side who have struggled for consistency since making a blistering start to the season.
And while, like that day at Anfield, the odds are stacked heavily in the top-flight side's favour for the first competitive west London derby between the two sides since 1950, Perryman says any FA Cup underdog must be full of belief.
"Don't tell me you can't get a slip in the box and a lucky break. It's possible," said the Spurs legend, who also won two Uefa Cups and the League Cup twice during his time at White Hart Lane.
"The longer the smaller team are level, the better their chance - and it only takes a defensive error or a great delivery from a set-piece.
"There will be a great atmosphere at Griffin Park and that probably lifts the smaller team more than the big team because Chelsea will be used to it.
"There are no mugs in the lower divisions now. They are all fit, they will have a spring in their step and they can cause an upset."
Perryman was Bees boss for three and-a-half years from 1987, and he believes that cup run - which involved seven games just to reach the quarter-finals - did wonders for their belief.
Brentford are not an up-and-under, blowing-the-bugle type team. But actually that will probably suit Chelsea more
A squad featuring Andy Sinton, Tony Parks, Neil Smillie, Keith Jones, Gary Blissett and Cadette had to win two replays and beat three higher-division clubs in Manchester City (who won promotion to the old Division One that season), Blackburn Rovers and Walsall to set up their dream tie at Anfield.
It did come at a cost though.
"Unfortunately, playing all those games hampered our league progress a bit that season," Perryman said. "We were in a good position for promotion and it didn't quite happen. You get involved in so many games there has to be a focus taken away.
"But I think it was the prelude to getting promoted under Phil Holder in 1992. That Cup run gave the team such confidence that we could be on the same pitch as the big boys. It was a wonderful experience.
"Sinton got sold on the back of that game [to QPR]. He was obviously a good player but showed he could handle it with the big boys."
Brentford are currently third in League One, where they have only lost four times all season. Their defeat by Tranmere Rovers last Saturday was their first at Griffin Park since August and up front they have Clayton Donaldson, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions so far this term.
But Chelsea legend Ron Harris, who played 795 games for the Blues before taking up a player-coach role with Brentford in 1980, cannot see an upset despite being impressed with the Bees when he saw them beat Southend to tee up the Chelsea tie.
Chelsea were beaten 4-0 by Barnsley in the FA Cup third round in the 1988-89 season but went on to win the old Division Two title.
The Blues reached their first FA Cup final in 24 years in 1994 but were brushed aside 4-0 at Wembley by a Manchester United side who clinched the double with that emphatic victory.
Chelsea won the 1997 FA Cup final, their first major trophy in 27 years and their second FA Cup success.
Since then they have won the competition five further times, in 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
They have won the FA Cup in four of the last six seasons, and have appeared in six of the 13 finals this century.
Chelsea v Manchester United 1994 FA Cup final
"They looked a half-decent side," Harris told BBC Sport. "Rosler has got them playing some decent football.
"Brentford are not an up-and-under, blowing-the-bugle type team and they played it around pretty well. But actually that will probably suit Chelsea more.
"It's a fantastic tie for Brentford. You get upsets every year but I just cannot see it in this game.
"Brentford would have to play out of their skin to beat Chelsea and Chelsea would have to play very poorly."
Notts County coach Colin Lee, a former Chelsea and Bees player, has been impressed with League One rivals Brentford this season, but cannot see an upset despite the turmoil at Stamford Bridge and the supporters' anger at Rafael Benitez's appointment as manager.
"Chelsea will put out a very strong team. Brentford deserve that but I think Chelsea will have too much for them," he said.
Lee joined Brentford from the Blues in 1987 and combined playing duties with a first foray into management as a youth team coach.
And although he was not involved in the game at Anfield, he was still on the playing staff and fondly recalls his spell with the Bees and the excitement that Cup run created.
Ron Harris, Micky Droy, Keith Jones, Tommy Baldwin, Colin Lee, Steve Sidwell, Joe Allon, Graham Wilkins, Peter Borota and Stewart Houston.
"It's a great club," Lee said. "I had a fantastic couple of years there. They were good times and good people and some of those people are still involved.
"The fans will remember this game for a long time. The Liverpool game created a real buzz and the local element will add that extra buzz this time.
"It will be fantastic for the whole area. There is nothing better than playing a local FA Cup derby against the European champions. What more can you want?"
Listen to live commentary of Sunday's FA Cup tie between Brentford v Chelsea from BBC London 94.9 (UK only).


Badminton is one of five sports to lose all UK Sport funding for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo - after Britain claimed a bronze in the sport in Rio.

Archery, fencing, weightlifting and wheelchair rugby have also missed out.
Cycling - which brought Team GB 12 medals in Rio - has had its funding cut by more than £4m to £25.98m.
Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy said he was "staggered" by the "incomprehensible" decision to remove the sport's funding.
A total of £345m will be invested in 31 Olympic and Paralympic sports - £2m less than the record £347m allocated for the Rio Games.
As a result, UK Sport has set Team GB a target of winning 51-85 Olympic medals, and 115-162 Paralympic medals in Tokyo.
Britain enjoyed unprecedented success at Rio 2016, with the Olympics yielding 67 medals and the Paralympics 147.
Chair of UK Sport Rod Carr said the government, which provides funding alongside National Lottery money, has "confirmed its commitment" for Tokyo 2020.
He added: "These are critical funding decisions for sports to take them on their journey to Tokyo 2020 and beyond so the historic success at Rio can be maintained."
Badminton, which was set a target of winning a medal in Rio, is the only sport that earned a podium place in the summer to have its funding removed.
Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge took bronze in the men's doubles after the sport was given £5.74m in the last cycle.
Christy said the decision represents a "catastrophic impact on the sport" and Badminton England would "fight for the hopes and dreams" of its players.
"How can you return from the best Games for more than a decade, in a year where our players have demonstrated world-class performances and where we can demonstrate the journey to Tokyo is on track, only be to have every penny of investment withdrawn?" he said.
"What have we done wrong?" added GB Badminton's performance director Jon Austin.
Judo, which was given the same target as badminton and also claimed one bronze medal, has had its funding increased slightly.
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said the decision to cut funding was not taken lightly.
"We would like to invest in every sport but the reality is we have to prioritise to protect and enhance the medal potential," she said.
"If we under-invest across the board then the British teams will ultimately underperform at the Games and medal success will be put at risk."
Sports minister Tracey Crouch added: "UK Sport's approach to elite sport has proven successful in Beijing, London and Rio and the ambition to win more medals in Tokyo is a bold one that, if achieved, would mean a sensational summer of sport in 2020."
Basketball had its funding withdrawn in 2014 - and handball and volleyball lost theirs in 2012 - but say a UK Sport review last year to build "performance pathways for future success" was supposed to be aimed at such sports.
A British Basketball statement, in conjunction with volleyball and handball, said: "It appears that UK Sport has no interest in team sports and in particular refuses to take responsibility for the need to fund their performance development, which was identified in its own review.
"With UK Sport's investment budget approaching £350m, it borders on intransigence to pass responsibility to government and other funding bodies who are not set up to fund the development of high-performance sport."
UK Sport says investment in the five Olympic sports and two Paralympic sports added for Tokyo 2020 is yet to be confirmed.
Baseball/softball will return to the programme, with karate, skateboard, sports climbing and surfing also added, while Para-taekwondo and Para-badminton join the Paralympic programme.
UK Sport says funding will be determined "following further exploration of medal potential", with £9m of the £345m total still to be allocated.
Liam Carroll, head coach of the GB baseball team, said: "The key to unlocking our potential is investment and I'm pleased that UK Sport has left the door open.
"We look forward to the opportunity to impress upon them that getting behind Great Britain Baseball can extend their tremendous track record of investing in Olympic medal contenders."


A blaze thought to have been caused by a fireball which was launched from a trebuchet at Warwick Castle has destroyed a historic boathouse.

Sparks from the projectile are believed to have ignited the blaze.
About 300 spectators were watching a demonstration of the weapon, described as the "world's largest working siege machine", when the thatched building caught fire on Friday evening.
"No-one was ever at any risk," a castle spokeswoman said.
Eyewitness Dr Martin Lees, 45, from central London, was watching with his wife and two six-year-old boys, from across the River Avon.
He said there was "more concern than panic" among fellow spectators.
"There was a bit of a wind. The breeze picked up the ash and a bit of ash was coming down on our side of the river," he said.
"It was intriguing more than anything else... It was well-managed by the staff."
Dr Lees said the large projectile, which looks like a "bag of cement" set on fire, landed at least 10m (33ft) away from the boat house at the climax of the demonstration.
He said: "I'd say it was about three minutes between the projectile landing on the grass and the fire starting at the boat house.... I suspect sparks from that landed on the roof.
"It's just possible it's not related to this but it seems unlikely."
The castle said "despite speculation" it had not yet ascertained the cause of the fire and the island housing the boat house was not open to the public.
The Trebuchet Fireball Spectacular was built in 2005, is 60ft (18m) high, weighs 22 tonnes and has been fired at least 6,500 times, while the boat house dates back to 1896.
In a statement, the castle spokeswoman said the fire, which began at about 17:45 BST, was "was safely extinguished within a short time".
She said people watching on the opposite side of the River Avon were moved away from the bank.
An internal investigation was under way and the castle was fully open on Saturday, she added.


Martin Fleischmann, the chemist who with Stanley Pons claimed in 1989 to have achieved "cold fusion", has died.

The claims set the science world alight, because the simple experiment would have been the source of cheap and practically limitless energy.
But the results could never be replicated, and the idea of fusion in normal laboratory conditions is now almost completely discredited.
Dr Fleischmann's son reported that he had died on Friday, aged 85.
The Czech-born chemist moved to England in 1938, attaining a PhD at Imperial College London.
He gained acclaim as an electrochemist at the University of Southampton and was working with American scientist Stanley Pons at the University of Utah when the controversial experiment, later reported in the Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry and Interfacial Electrochemistry, was carried out.
From first reports in March 1989 of the possibility of room-temperature fusion, groups feverishly attempted to repeat the pair's findings, using the metal palladium and electricity to split molecules of normal and "heavy" water, a form containing a variant of hydrogen.
None of them saw the same release of excess heat that Fleischmann and Pons had attributed to nuclear fusion. In time, accusations of "sloppy" work led to accusations of outright fraud, and the idea of cold fusion retired to the fringes of science.
The pair moved to France in 1992 in order to continue experiments designed to validate their work, but Fleischmann returned to England in 1995 and became increasingly distant from the small research community still dedicated to recreating the initial findings.
He had suffered from Parkinson's disease for a number of years.


A couple's turbulent relationship has been revealed in letters found after their six-year-old daughter died from head injuries.

Ben Butler is accused of killing Ellie Butler at their family home in Sutton, south-west London in October.
A jury heard how Ellie lived in a "toxic" environment due to Mr Butler's volatile temper, while partner Jennie Gray would do anything to please him.
The 36-year-old denies murder and a separate charge of child cruelty.
Ellie's mother Ms Gray, 36, also denies a child cruelty charge relating to a shoulder injury.
She has admitted perverting the course of justice by giving a false account of what she did on the day Ellie died.
More on this story and other news from London
Ellie died 11 months after the couple got her back from care.
She was returned to them after Mr Butler was cleared on appeal of assaulting her as a six-week-old baby.
A post-mortem examination revealed she suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts.
The Old Bailey was shown handwritten letters and prayers seized by police at the family home in Westover Close following Ellie's death.
One "letter of prayer" found inside the bedroom at the couple's home read: "Make him stop being angry, hateful and violent."
Another read: "Please don't let Ben leave me but make him learn to like me.
"Stop violence and make him WANT ME and be there at the birth if I have a baby boy."
In a letter from Mr Butler to Ms Gray, he asked her to "try harder with your mouth as it's a trigger for me".
He also wrote: "I would be lost without you."
A note entitled "Ellie's behaviour" outlined 10 points including: "lying, not doing as she's told, does not listen or pay attention, constantly answers back, argues, constantly manipulative, feel you can't trust her, acts like a child prior to her years, we feel she is aware she is doing this".
The trial continues.


Glasgow City Council has passed a budget that will see it cut 1,500 posts in the next year in order to meet a £130m shortfall over the next years.

Its plan, which was first revealed last year, is part of the budget for 2016/17.
Council leader Frank McAveety said the scale of the savings was the result of "Scottish government budget cuts".
A Scottish government spokesman said the council had accepted "our fair funding deal".
He said Glasgow received a government funding allocation which would amount to £1.344bn next year.
The council claimed that £83m of the £130m shortfall would need to be found in the next year.
It said it would use reserves and other measures to reduce that to £58m.
The council said the 1,500 posts reduction would be achieved through "natural wastage". It was estimated this would save £25m.
It also plans to save £10m in procurement costs by renegotiating contracts and reviewing how it buys in goods and services.
Community grants could be cut by £6.15m, with a £1.6m reduction targeted for Police Scotland.
Grass cutting and hedge trimming could be reduced in frequency to save £1.5m.
Schools, museums, libraries and office buildings may also be cleaned less often and to a lower standard in a bid to save £700,000 and £48,000 could be cut from the graffiti removal scheme.
The council is also proposing to remove support for the Theatre Royal and reduce grants for the King's Theatre and Pollok House by 10% as part of £208,000 savings from its cultural grants.
Christmas activities and the whole festive programme will also be reviewed in the months ahead in a bid to identify possible savings.
The council leader said: "The £130m cuts we face over the next two years are not just cuts from Westminster.
"Glasgow has had a double-whammy of Holyrood cuts piled on top of those from Westminster.
"When I became leader the city faced a cuts bill of £103m. Now its £130m. Make no mistake this is a direct result of the Scottish government's budget cuts."
Mr McAveety said that despite making cuts the council was still committed to frontline services.
He added: "Despite facing a huge budget shortfall, Glasgow City Council has committed to investing £100m in our schools and community facilities over the next five years with an increased capital investment fund.
"This fund will ensure that these vital facilities across the city continue to operate and don't suffer from the cuts being imposed on us - a real example of the council delivering for the communities of Glasgow."
A Scottish government spokesman said: "Glasgow City Council remains the highest funded per head of any wholly mainland council, and has accepted our fair funding deal, securing their share of a £10.3bn package - they will continue to receive their allocation which amounts to £1.344bn next year.
"In addition, updated independent analysis published today by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) has found that when it comes to the council tax freeze and the funding of local government, the freeze has been 'over-funded' by the Scottish government, which 'has resulted in an estimated £180m extra going to local government'."
Meanwhile, East Ayrshire Council has agreed to use its reserves to avoid making any cuts in the next financial year.
The authority set its budget on Thursday and said that by using reserves it had bought time to plan ahead.
It said the decision meant there would be no compulsory job losses and spending on services would continue as planned.


The £4.2m refurbishment of one of the world's iconic locomotives, Flying Scotsman, has been revealed.

The engine, which was retired from service in 1963, has been restored for York's National Railway Museum (NRM) in a shed in Bury, Greater Manchester.
The museum bought the "cultural icon" in 2004 using a grant and donations.
A NRM spokeswoman said it had been a "challenging project" to bring it "back to life", adding that testing of the restored engine will begin in January.
The work was carried out by Riley and Sons, who were brought onto the project two years ago.
The company's co-director Colin Green said they were "starting to look forward to the moment we will look at the crowds that have turned up to see Scotsman in steam and be able to say 'we did that'".
He said the work had included an overhaul of the engine's boiler, the addition of a new "fire box" and "smoke box" and a new chassis "grafted on" to the original.
Tests will begin on 6 January at the East Lancashire Railway, ahead of a mainline test from Manchester to Carlisle over the scenic Ribbleshead viaduct.
It will be repainted in its traditional green livery on 10 February for its inaugural journey from London's King's Cross to York two weeks later. Public services will begin in late February, alongside an exhibition at the museum.
Source: National Railway Museum
The restored engine had been due to return to York four years ago, but it was delayed after cracks were found in the chassis.
NRM's associate curator Bob Gwynne said the work in Bury had taken the Scotsman "down to the bare bones", but it was now "in the best condition" it had been in since it was given an overhaul in 1963 by its first private owner, "flamboyant businessman" Alan Pegler.
The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 using £415,000 in public donations, a £365,000 gift from Sir Richard Branson and a £1.8m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.


Retailers must to do more to explain why farmers in Northern Ireland get the lowest price for their red meat, a Westminster committee has said.

And dairy farmers must not be the victims of a "supermarket price war" where milk is sold cheap to attract customers.
The findings are part of a report on an environment, food and rural affairs committee inquiry into farmgate prices in the dairy and red meat sectors.
The report was published on Wednesday.
The committee began the inquiry in September 2015.
This was amid concerns over price volatility and the impact on the farming industry.
The Ulster Farmers' Union gave evidence to the inquiry that the price differential was costing beef farmers in Northern Ireland at least Â£17m in lost revenue, even though the meat was produced to the same standard.
The committee found that regions which got a lower price were "more vulnerable to external price shocks".
And it said that claims from retailers, that there were "sustainable economic reasons" justifying the price differences, "have not been fully accepted by many farmers".
It called on retailers to do more to explain the reasons and ensure their prices were fair.
On dairy prices, the committee said farmers must not be caught in the middle of a "supermarket war".
It said that while those who supplied milk to the supermarkets on contracts were guaranteed a price for their milk, "the chronic low price of milk sold through supermarkets inevitably disadvantages farmers in the longer term".
It said promises about milk prices had to be followed up with action, and progress had been uneven among the supermarkets.
It added that the situation for dairy farmers in Northern Ireland was particularly difficult, because three quarters of milk produced here was exported as milk powder and it did not have the same reliance on the liquid milk market.
The committee found that much of the volatility around prices was due to global factors such as the Russian ban on EU food and the downturn in the Chinese economy.
It also said a strong pound had made imports cheaper.
The committee urged farmers to come together in producer organisations to increase their bargaining power.


Pop group Clean Bandit look like they will claim the Christmas number one on Friday, early figures suggest.

Their single Rockabye is 4,000 copies ahead of its nearest rival, despite having been number one for the last six weeks, says the Official Chart Company.
Rag N Bone Man's Human is at number two, while Little Mix have seen a huge sales increase for their single Touch, which jumps from 23 to three.
But a tribute single to murdered MP Jo Cox looks like it will miss the top 40.
The song, a cover of the Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want, which features David Gray, KT Tunstall and a cross-party group of MPs, languishes at number 59 in the midweek chart update.
A charity single by the London Hospices Choir fares better, entering the chart at 33.
The choir is made up of 300 patients and staff from 18 different hospices. They have joined forces with Mike and the Mechanics' frontman Paul Carrack to record a new version of their single The Living Years, which is a young man's message to his deceased father.
Manchester band Inspiral Carpets also score a new entry at 20 with their 1994 single Saturn 5.
Fans have sent it back into the chart in tribute to drummer Craig Gill, who died earlier this year.
Despite their good intentions, the various charity and tribute singles are failing to compete both in sales and on streaming services, meaning they are unlikely to challenge the likes of Clean Bandit, Rag N Bone Man and Little Mix for the coveted Christmas number one slot.
If any of those three top the chart, it will be the first time since 2003 that the festive chart has been topped by someone other than an X Factor winner, charity record or "stunt" single.
That year, Gary Jules and Michael Andrew emerged victorious with their cover of Tears For Fears' Mad World, originally from the cult film Donnie Darko.
The official Christmas chart will be revealed live on Greg James' BBC Radio 1 show this Friday, 23 December, from 16:00 GMT.
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