§ 8. Mr. Loveysasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish the individual applications for grants received by his Department from local authorities to help cleaning the beaches of oil from the "Torrey Canyon" disaster.
§ Mr. MacCollMany authorities have yet to submit claims, and those submitted may not be complete. I will, with permission, publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the authorities who have applied showing the expenditure in respect of which grant is claimed.
§ Mr. LoveysIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some other local authorities have had great burdens to bear in clearing up oil from their beaches and that because the oil did not happen to come from the "Torrey Canyon" they get no grant? Will he, in fairness, extend the grant-aid system to all local authorities affected by oil pollution?
§ Mr. MacCollThe Government are considering the future of grant aid as part of their general review of the lessons of the "Torrey Canyon" disaster, but I would not hold out much hope of any action being retrospective in its effect.
Mr. Geoffrey WilsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable discontent about the burden that has fallen on the rates in some areas affected by the "Torrey Canyon" disaster because the grant was not 100 per cent., although inland areas did not benefit?
§ Mr. MacCollI have no evidence of discontent. The figures are still coming in with claims for grant.
§ Mr. RipponWhy will not the Government consider meeting all reasonable expenditure by local authorities in dealing with this matter, which is of national concern?
§ Mr. MacCollThe Government are examining the future position. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement about financial assistance following the "Torrey Canyon" disaster which was universally welcomed as being very helpful.
| CLAIMS RECEIVED FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CONNECTION WITH OIL POLLUTION—TORREY CANYON | |||
| Local Authority | Expenditure on which claim is based | ||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| East Sussex County Council | 526 | 14 | 0 |
| Portsmouth County Borough Council | 1,882 | 1 | 9 |
| St. Ives Borough Council | 78,318 | 0 | 0 |
| Bridport Urban District Council | 736 | 9 | 0 |
| Dawlish Urban District Council | 440 | 12 | 8 |
| Exmouth Urban District Council | 616 | 0 | 11 |
| Northam Urban District Council | 242 | 6 | 4 |
| Paignton Urban District Council | 211 | 16 | 4 |
| Salcombe Urban District Council | 1,348 | 18 | 5 |
| Honiton Rural District Council | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| New Forest Rural District Council | 452 | 1 | 0 |
| St. Thomas Rural District Council | 62 | 16 | 9 |
| Totnes Rural District Council | 25 | 13 | 10 |
| Winchester Rural District Council | 87 | 7 | 1 |
| West Penwith Rural District Council | 11,994 | 0 | 0 |