HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc249-56
Mr. Gray (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the severe weather conditions in the Scottish Highlands, he would make a statement about conditions in that area.

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Bruce Millan)

Since the blizzards of the weekend, large parts of the Highlands have been gravely affected by snow. Four people are known to have died as a direct result of the storms. I wish to express my sympathy to the relatives. One man is still reported missing.

Because of the disruptions to communications by road, rail and telephone, information about the effects of the storm on the more remote areas, particularly North-West Sutherland, is not comprehensive. There have been widespread power failures which the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board is doing its best to remedy.

Emergency operations are being co-ordinated by the Chief Constable of the Northern Constabulary, who has had considerable assistance from the Armed Services, local authority departments, motoring organisations and many private individuals. I consider that these arrangements are working satisfactorily.

While I am keeping a close watch on events, I think it best to leave the detailed organisation to the people on the spot who know the local circumstances. The chief constable tells me that, with the help of some 16 helicopters, he is arranging for surveys of the remoter areas to check on food supplies. His forces are continuing to probe the larger drifts of snow on the roads to check whether there are any more cars still buried, but these operations are being hampered by continuing falls of snow.

I would like to pay tribute to the most excellent work of all those involved in the rescue operations, particularly the Service men, who have been responsible for the rescue of about 200 people up to date. Without the services of the helicopters and their crews, it would have been impossible to deal with such serious disruption over such a wide and sparsely populated area.

The main tasks now are to ensure that people who are in immediate difficulty are given the help they need and to restore communications and electricity supplies as quickly as possible. All the services concerned are working hard towards these ends. I have arranged for extra snow-clearing equipment to be sent to the area as well as machines from the North of England and Northern Ireland; a very large snow blower is being transported by the Royal Air Force from Switzerland and should arrive in the Highlands tomorrow. Units of the King's Own Scottish Borderers are helping British Railways to clear the railway line north of Inverness. Telephone and electrical engineers are being taken to the site of breakdowns by helicopter, if necessary.

The Government are ready to supplement the efforts of the local authorities and police in any way possible and will respond to any call for help. So far, the local people responsible have not felt it necessary to ask for such help beyond that which I have already mentioned. I have, however, arranged for my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland to travel to Inverness later today so that he will be available on the spot.

Mr. Gray

I thank the Secretary of State for making that full statement. I wish to associate myself with his remarks about the sympathy that the House extends to the relatives of those who have been so tragically killed by storms.

Will the right hon. Gentleman comment on two matters? First, while we appreciate greatly the work that has been done by the linesmen of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in trying to restore power, will he bear in mind that in parts of my constituency there has been no light, heat or television since Friday last? The linesmen are working under great pressure. Will the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices to try to arrange for reinforcements to assist them? Secondly, will he ask his officials to keep the closest possible contact with the local branches of the National Farmers' Union? I have had one case already reported to me today where a farmer has lost 50 sheep as a result of the storm, and that sort of situation is liable to be revealed throughout the whole Highlands area.

Mr. Millan

I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman has said. First, I shall keep in touch with the hydro-electric board. As I understand the position, all the available linesmen are already working in the area. Secondly, the problem of providing fodder stuffs for livestock is that basically it would have to be done by helicopter, and we are using all the available helicopters to save human life. However, I appreciate that there is a problem. If we are able to do something about it a little later, we shall be anxious to do that.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Is the Secretary of State aware that I wish to be associated with the commiserations for those who have died, to whom he has referred, the congratulations that he has given to the public services, which have made a remarkable effort, and the remarkable expressions of fortitude and compassion that we have had from individuals such as John and Mavis Sinclair in the Slochd, who provided food for 65 people without any warning?

In pursuit of what the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Gray) has said, what steps will the right hon. Gentleman's Department and his office be taking to quantify the cost of the enormous storm both to the local authorities and to individuals such as farmers, to whom reference has been made by the hon. Gentleman? Secondly, has the hydroelectric board made any request for the availability of extra staff, perhaps from the South of Scotland Electricity Board?

Mr. Millan

I cannot give a definite answer to the hon. Gentleman's second question, but I shall pursue the matter. As far as I am aware all the available resources are being used in the areas concerned, which extend over a wide area of Scotland. As the hon. Gentleman understands very well, there are problems of access. Even if personnel are available, there remain problems in getting people to the various locations.

On the subject of cost, I shall want to examine that aspect when the situation is clear and when we can see the extent of the damage and the financial burden which has fallen on local authorities.

Dr. Bray

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that all the helicopters that are available from private charter firms and operators are being used and will continue to be used as long as the emergency lasts?

Mr. Millan

At present, Service helicopters are being used from Navy, Army and Air Force establishments. As far as I am aware, the resources available to the chief constable who is in charge of the operation are adequate. But if he needs additional help that can be obtained only from private sources, I shall be happy to examine the situation. To repeat the point I made originally, operational control lies with the chief constable and the local authorities. I have no reason to believe that they are not doing everything possible to deal with the situation.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

I wish to associate myself and my SNP colleagues with the expressions of sympathy. I also wish to express admiration for the courage of all concerned, particularly to many of my constituents in the area of the two stations who took part in rescue operations.

I wish to thank the Secretary of State for Scotland for all the practical steps which are being taken, but I should like to ask him whether he agrees that there is a long-term lesson to be learned and that we should set up some kind of contingency disaster fund to be called upon when freak spells of weather take place. May we not also learn the lesson that when local authorities face these special burdens they should be given consideration in the allotment of funds even after the present terrors have passed?

Mr. Millan

When these natural disasters occur, there is a financial burden on the local authorities concerned and one has to deal with representations for financial assistance on their merits. I have recently dealt with the subject of flooding in the Borders and have received representations from the local authorities on that issue. I believe that we should wait to see what is involved before we commit ourselves to whether Government money will be available. I shall examine the matter carefully when we have the information.

Mr. Dalyell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the district engineer at Bath-gate has, in common with many other district engineers, sent all available linesmen to the Highlands? Since we in Central Scotland also have a problem, would it not be possible to obtain some help from snow-free areas of England?

Mr. Millan

I can only repeat that so far as I am aware the hydro-electric board, which has a great deal of experience in operating in adverse weather conditions even in a normal winter in the Highlands, is doing all it can to deal with the situation. However, I shall pursue this matter with the board following these discussions.

Mr. Fairbairn

I wish to associate myself with the tributes paid to those who have suffered, to the courage of their rescuers, and to the endurance of those who live in the rural areas of Scotland without complaint of any kind.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two questions? In these blizzard conditions, which may not yet be over, is he taking special precautions to ensure that steps are taken not only to rescue human lives but to provide food for the livestock that is endangered? Does he intend to enlarge on the present efforts? Secondly, in regard to the rural areas and the plight of hill farmers, who are particularly financially deprived, will he look with special sympathy at any claims for the loss of livestock, life and property and will he consider the extra burdens that are being put on local authorities?

Mr. Millan

I shall certainly look at those matters sympathetically, but we must wait a little to see exactly what is involved in terms of financial loss. On the subject of contingency plans, when this episode is over we shall want to see whether there are any lessons that we may draw from this experience and whether the stocks of equipment in the affected areas are adequate to deal with the situation. At present the important consideration is to get on with the job, and I know that all concerned are working extremely hard. I should like to pay tribute to them and to the many individuals who live in these areas, who is some cases have behaved with great courage in rescuing people trapped in the snow.

Mr. Watt

I, too, wish to pay a tribute to those in the public services who have carried out such excellent rescue work. However, will the right hon. Gentleman guard against complacency in respect of many farmers in the uplands and Highlands? The right hon. Gentleman claimed that so far he had had no communication with those people. That is not surprising, because in many cases they are totally cut off from outside communication. Furthermore, will the right hon. Gentleman pay particular attention to the fate of livestock in these areas? Does he realise that many thousands of sheep have now been in drifts for periods of up to four days, and that unless they are rescued within the next 48 hours they are certain to perish? Will he consider moving troops into these areas by an air lift so that they may assist farmers in rescuing sheep from snowdrifts, which in some cases are as deep as 18 ft.?

Mr. Millan

I think that I have already answered the comment about livestock by saying that in the present situation we must give most of our attention to rescuing human beings. Having said that, if there is anything that we can do to help farmers with livestock, we shall do it, but all the equipment and personnel are already very heavily engaged. I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that I did not say that I had not had representations because, naturally, I cannot have contact with farmers at this early stage. However, I said that I would later examine the position to see the extent of the damage. I give the hon. Gentleman that assurance.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we all wish to pay tribute to the magnificent rescue operation, one of the best that has occurred and throughout which there have been many examples of individual courage?

I wish to put two points to the right hon. Gentleman. In view of the great amount of suffering and hardship in the last few days in the most severe weather conditions that have obtained for many years, will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some indication of weather prospects? Is this situation likely to go on for some time? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I understand that the Government obtain advice on these matters, which I am sure would be valuable.

Secondly, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to review the arrangements for giving advice or adequate warning to motorists and other travellers of severe weather—warnings which may have assisted many who have been stranded in the snow on major roads?

Mr. Litterick

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Have we not reached the utmost depth of absurdity when an Opposition Front-Bench spokesman asks a Minister for a weather forecast?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have heard a lot worse than that in this House.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I was simply inquiring whether scientific advice is made available as to likely weather prospects.

Mr. Millan

Perhaps I may reply to the hon. Gentleman by saying that there are continuing falls of snow today. This is a serious matter because rescue operations are now being hampered by these continuing falls of snow. I cannot add to that point.

On the other point relating to the giving of advance warning to motorists, undoubtedly many people were caught unexpectedly, but the severity of the blizzard occurred very quickly indeed. After this episode is over, we shall want to examine all these matters.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

I shall call only the hon. Member for Argyll (Mr. MacCormick).

Mr. MacCormick

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that although I entirely agree that the main effort should be aimed at saving human life, we should also remember that human life is still at stake because many old people and others—and this applies to many of my constituents on the Isle of Islay—have been without electricity since last Friday? May we be assured that everything possible is being done to reconnect those homes to the electricity supply as soon as possible?

Mr. Millan

I can only repeat that the electricity authorities are working hard to restore the situation. One should pay tribute to the linesmen because they undertake their work in savage conditions of snow and cold, even in a normal winter. They are a dedicated body of men and are working excessively hard.