HC Deb 10 February 1953 vol 511 cc221-9
Mr. J. Stuart

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will now make the statement to which I referred at Question time.

First, I know that hon. Members will have learnt with deep regret of the sad loss yesterday of the Fraserburgh lifeboat with the loss of six men. This is yet another chapter in the sad tale of disaster which has distressed us all so grievously in the course of the last few days. The whole House will, I know, wish to join with me in expressing our sincere sympathy with the relatives of those who have given their lives in the performance of their dangerous calling. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]

Since my statement last Wednesday, I have been able to collect further reports from local authorities and other bodies and to formulate an estimate of the damage caused by the storm. The reports now show that in addition to the six deaths I referred to last week, three other persons are known to have died as a result of accidents which occurred during the storm. The number of people who were rendered homeless was between 150 and 200, and, as I said before, most of them have returned to their own homes. In some cases, however, where houses have been destroyed or are in need of substantial repairs, people will have to be kept in temporary housing for the time being. As regards the 37 persons rendered homeless at Huntly, accommodation has been found for them in a hutted camp about a mile from the burgh.

The local authorities in the areas affected by the storm report widespread damage to houses, schools and roads and in certain cases to coast protection works. At Kirkwall, where serious damage occurred to a sea wall, the repairs are estimated to cost £28,000. Much of the damage such as broken slates and fallen chimney pots is not readily assessable.

As regards the fishing industry, two boats were lost and about 100 damaged at various places, but a full assessment of the damage will not be possible until all the boats driven ashore have been re-floated and surveyed and all the trawlers have returned to port. I understand, however, that nearly all these are insured. There are, as the House knows, over 20 boats still ashore at Ullapool. Four tugs have now arrived, including one from the Admiralty, and an effort will be made to refloat the boats on the spring tides at the end of this week. Arrangements have also been made for military assistance to he given during this operation.

I should like to mention particularly to the House a remarkable and very gallant feat of seamanship which saved the crew of the "Coronia," of Lossiemouth, the boat which was lost in the Moray Firth. Skipper William Imlach, of the trawler "Loch Awe," of Aberdeen, received her messages of distress, and in the height of the gale and with a visibility of 50 yards found his way to her by dead reckoning in time to rescue the crew. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]

The cost of repairing damage to fishery harbours is not known meanwhile but at least eight suffered minor damage, the most severe loss being the destruction of a small timber pier at Whalsay.

Happily, reports from all parts of Scotland confirm that the damage to agriculture has been comparatively small, and in no part of the country has it been exceptional or exceeded what might be expected as the result of normal gale conditions.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and the General Post Office have suffered damage to their installations. principally by falling timber. The Hydro Board have repaired most of their damage, which they estimate at not more than £10,000, and the General Post Office should reconnect the 8,000 subscribers whose lines were disconnected within the next two or three weeks. The Scottish Gas Board suffered heavy damage at the gasworks at Banff, but reserve equipment was sent up immediately and the works recommenced operations today.

The heaviest material loss, however, has been suffered by private owners of woodlands and by the Forestry Commission. I very much regret that the amount of gale damage to woodlands is severe. The damage is mainly concentrated in the north-eastern counties. North of the Caledonian Canal, spasmodic damage has occurred, but it is on a much smaller scale. The south and west of Scotland, fortunately, have largely escaped.

The damage is predominantly in the middle-aged and older woodlands on private estates. In the younger plantations of the Forestry Commission, windfall is much less extensive. Estimates of the quantity blown must necessarily be treated with reserve at this stage, but the total in Scotland as a whole might be of the order of 30 to 35 million cubic feet. The magnitude of this figure can be gauged if I mention that in Scotland last year a total of 16 million cubic feet of all categories and types of timber was licensed for felling. This figure included 4 million cubic feet of hardwoods and 5 million cubic feet of thinnings in coniferous woodlands.

The clearing up of this damage will need to be tackled energetically by the Forestry Commission, private owners and the timber trade. Detailed plans must await a more accurate assessment of the quantity of timber of the various categories involved, and an estimate of the time at which they can be placed on the market. Discussions are proceeding this week in Scotland between the owners and the timber trade and with the advisory committees of the Forestry Commission for the areas principally concerned. Further proposals for Government action may well emerge from these consultations as more detailed information is obtained, and it would be a mistake to take hasty action where our knowledge is incomplete.

In the meantime, however, plans are being made to ensure the orderly disposal of the timber from the blown trees. The present consumption of sawn softwoods in Great Britain is approximately 1.2 million standards per annum, of which less than 5 per cent. is available from the home woodlands. But this rate of consumption is restricted by licensing, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Materials has agreed to make special arrangements to meet the present emergency. Broadly speaking, he proposes to arrange that licences are freely issued to consumers to use sawn timber from the blown trees. The Ministry of Materials will also consider the purchase of suitable timber, both sawn and in the log, for stockpiling purposes as soon as more details can be given of the quantities and specifications available.

With regard to the smaller sizes of timber that must be disposed of, discussions are proceeding with the National Coal Board, who are co-operating most readily in working out the best measures to ensure its early use. Detailed plans must, naturally, await more precise assessments of quantities and period of delivery.

Lastly, the Forestry Commission have for the present stopped the issue of clear-felling licences for softwoods in Scotland, save where circumstances are exceptional.

In view of these measures, and bearing in mind that, as I have said, only a small proportion of our home consumption is normally met from our home woodlands, I am satisfied that there need be no anxiety as to our ability to absorb, and to make proper use of, all this fallen timber after it has been sawn.

Mr. Woodburn

I am sure that I speak in the name of the whole House in saying that we associate ourselves with the sympathy expressed by the right hon. Gentleman in the sad loss of the Fraser-burgh lifeboat and of the others who have suffered the loss of their dear ones in this disaster. May I ask whether the Minister or any of his colleagues in the Scottish Office have paid a personal visit to this area, which has suffered so greatly? I am quite sure that a visit from a Minister gives the people some encouragement to believe that action will be taken to relieve them in their distress.

I hope that the pepole who have been deprived of houses will not be left too long in the temporary accommodation. May I suggest that some of the timber houses, which, I understand, are still on order, might be diverted to the area to relieve this rather urgent distress?

The right hon. Gentleman said that the boats were insured, but there seems to be some doubt whether insurance covers this type of damage. Can he tell us whether the insurance to which he referred does cover this type of damage and that where it does not the Government can give an assurance to these fishermen that they will get assistance to replace their gear and boats at the earliest possible moment?

I should like to associate my right hon. and hon. Friends on this side of the House with the regrets expressed about the loss of this timber. Timber was one of the stand-bys for the future economy of Scotland and any loss in this direction is a loss to plans spread over the next 50 years for the rehabilitation of population in the Highlands and northern districts of Scotland.

Mr. Stuart

The right hon. Member asked me about visits, but with the very widespread nature of this damage it did not seem to me that a great deal could be achieved by visiting certain isolated spots when the whole area was suffering. I have, therefore, been concerned throughout with collecting information from all over the area and with attending at the emergency ministerial meetings here to decide on the best steps to be taken to meet the emergency.

Incidentally, I was also informed—this covers the point raised in regard to houses—that there was nothing which the local authorities were not able to cope with. There was only one request for emergency accommodation—for a Department of Agriculture Camp at Huntly—and this, of course, was immediately agreed to. But that does not solve the permanent housing problem and I agree that we must press ahead and do all we can there.

I believe that the boat damage is covered by insurance. If there is any difficulty about this it is a matter which, of course, we must look into.

Lady Tweedsmuir

As regards the felling of the timber, which is a national disaster, does my right hon. Friend realise that the present timber merchants and foresters cannot possibly cope with such vast numbers of trees? Will he give consideration to Government help, either by accepting the very generous Canadian offers or at any rate providing equipment and men for the clearance and storage of these trees, which must be done within a year if they are not to deteriorate? Will he also see whether it is possible for the Government to give a guaranteed price?

Mr. Stuart

I should not like to say anything at this stage about the guaranteed price. There is the market; if we can get the timber to the market there is the use for it, but I will certainly think about it. We do welcome all offers of assistance and the Government of Canada have been thanked by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I am sure we are all grateful for all the offers which have come from so many parts of the world.

In this case, with the stopping of clear felling licences in other areas and concentration of the available merchants and saw-millers on the afflicted area, we hope to be able to make progress with this problem. It is a great problem; I am not minimising the difficulties. Tomorrow, the representatives of the timber trade, the Forestry Commission and the owners of woodland are meeting in Aberdeen to discuss the best way of handling the problem.

Mr. Hector Hughes

While thanking the Minister for that very comprehensive statement, may I ask whether he is aware that in the opinion of experts one of the most urgent things about the timber disaster is to save the timber before it turns what is called "blue"? For that purpose bands of woodmen should be organised, markets should be found and transport found to bring the timber to the markets so that it could be divided into two classes—(a) that which would be used for housing, building and things of that sort, and (b) the other classes for fuel. What is being done about that?

Mr. Stuart

I can assure the hon. and learned Member that those are the very points which we are discussing at present. This timber must be peeled and stacked, if not sawn within a limited period.

Mr. Spence

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the long-term effect of this disaster on the dedication scheme, since most of the large owners will be paid for successive stages of the scheme by the orderly selling of their timber? Will he look into that?

Mr. Stuart

Yes, I will. I have had a preliminary meeting with the Forestry Commission. I think my hon. Friend will agree that the first essential work is clearing and that we must look into these other points later.

Mr. Manuel

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that in connection with windblown timber he will mobilise the manpower of the Forestry Commission in Scotland—use their tractors and other mechanism—and so proceed quickly to get these forests cleared and the timber stored? Would he also consult his right hon. Friends to see that the price of timber shall be reduced and not kept at an artificial price for pit props and housing timber now that we have this augmentation to the market?

Mr. Stuart

The question of price will be watched very carefully. I think that if anything the bottom is more likely to fall out of the market owing to the fact that it is very difficult and expensive to clear this wind-blown timber, but I will certainly bear in mind the point raised by the hon. Member.

Mr. Boothby

Will my right hon. Friend conduct a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Fraserburgh lifeboat disaster, which affects not only Fraserburgh but many other parts of the country, because that lifeboat was of standard design? It is very important that there should be a full inquiry into all the circumstances and causes.

Secondly, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this timber disaster is far beyond the capacity of the trade to deal with in the time available? I beg him not to rule out the generous Canadian offer of help. We have to get these woodlands cleared in the next 12 months. If the Canadians can help, I beg my right hon. Friend not to rule that out as we shall want all the labour we can get.

Mr. Stuart

I assure my hon. Friend that I rule out nothing. I agree with him entirely that we have to try to get this cleared. That is essential and we shall do everything possible.

In regard to the lifeboat, my hon. Friend may rest assured that an inquiry will be carried out. I believe that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are instituting an inquiry.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Minister make known as soon as possible what help private owners who suffered loss may expect? Secondly, will a major installation such as a harbour wall or pier be treated as a national responsibility, which will not fall entirely on the local authority concerned?

Mr. Stuart

Emergency work to which the Home Secretary referred is eligible for Treasury assistance and in those cases application should be made to the appropriate Government Department. As to the other question, details in connection with the Lord Mayor's Appeal have to be worked out and Scotland will be represented on the committee dealing with the Fund. My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make a statement on the subject in the near future.

Captain Duncan

Will my right hon. Friend pay special attention to smaller woodland owners? The larger woodland owner has some organisation to deal with the matter, although that will want augmenting, but the smaller owner has no organisation to deal with what is a complete disaster.

Mr. Stuart

Yes, we certainly wish to pay attention to all these losses and do our best to get them cleared up as soon as possible.