HL Deb 29 January 1952 vol 174 cc894-7

2.56 p.m.

LORD MORRISON

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement concerning the recent gale damage in the Orkney and Shetland Islands; what action has been or will be taken to make good the damage and to ensure restoration of milk, egg and beef production.]

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, if I may, with the noble Lord's permission, I will reply on behalf of my noble friend the Minister of State for Scotland who, unfortunately, is indisposed to-day. In the early hours of Tuesday, January 15, a severe gale struck the Orkney Islands and other parts of the North of Scotland. It lasted for between three and four hours and caused widespread damage to houses, farm buildings and poultry. No accurate estimate of the damage has yet been made, but my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who visited Orkney shortly after the storm, has arranged for technical officers of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland to make a detailed survey of the damage caused to the agricultural industry upon which the greatest part of the loss has fallen. I am glad to say that relatively few persons lost their homes, and steps are being taken to provide permanent homes for them in place of the temporary accommodation into which they were moved immediately after the gale. Many other persons have, however, suffered severe losses, and I should like to take this opportunity of expressing, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, their sympathy for those who have suffered. A relief fund was opened immediately by the Lord-Lieutenant of Orkney, and the Lords Provost of the five cities have since appealed for funds to alleviate hardship, both in Orkney and elsewhere in the North of Scotland. As your Lordships will be aware, His Majesty's Government have contributed £20,000 in response to this appeal.

Immediate steps, also, were taken by the Departments concerned to help farmers and smallholders to deal with the problems which arose out of the storm. Arrangements were made for the issue, as necessary, of permits for rationed animal and poultry feeding-stuffs, and for the waiving of the normal twelve days marketing notice, so that farmers could readily dispose of cattle which they found it impossible to keep. As regards damage to buildings, the Ministry of Works have opened temporary offices in Kirkwall to deal with inquiries about licences and the authorisation of materials. The poultry industry has suffered very seriously, and it will be some time before stocks can be built up again. To assist in this process arrangements have been made to modify certain regulations in the associated poultry breeding scheme, under which nearly fifty stations operate in Orkney, forming a valuable source of high-class stock.

May I add that the Secretary of State was greatly impressed during his visit to Orkney by the spirit of self-help which was everywhere evident, and by the vigorous efforts which were being made by the local authorities and by the islanders to restore the productivity of this important agricultural area? The Departments concerned will continue to assist these efforts in every way they can.

LORD MORRISON

My Lords, may I thank the noble Earl for the lengthy answer which he has given as to the steps that have been taken and are being taken, which I am certain will meet with the approval of the public generally? There is just one point that I should like to bring to the notice of the noble Earl. He said that the Government had made an advance of £20,000, but that they are not yet in a position to state the actual amount of the damage. Various estimates have, however, appeared in the Press, and the generally accepted figure seems to be about £500,000. The Lord Provosts have started a fund, and the last notice I saw in the Press stated that it had raised just over £8,000, though the amount may be more now. My question to the noble Earl is this: will he be good enough to bring to the notice of the Government the fact that there are many Scottish people, and others well disposed to Scotland, throughout the world? I wonder whether steps could not be taken to see that the appeal for help is more widely circulated. I am not asking for an additional Government grant, but I am sure that if the appeal were widely circulated, and the onus to find the money to make good this devastation not left entirely with the Scottish people, the result would be much greater than it is likely to be at present.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Morrison, for his suggestion, which is an admirable one. I can only hope that his remarks will receive attention. The Government will certainly be anxious to draw support from any people of Scottish birth, and from others who are well-disposed, in whatever part of the world they may be. If that can be made known, I am sure the results will be all the greater.

LORD CLYDESMUIR

My Lords, the Question on the Order Paper refers to damage in the Islands, but as my noble friend is aware, the storm struck the north coast of the mainland heavily, too, and much damage was done in the northern parts of Caithness and Sutherland. May the House be assured that measures will be taken in these parts also, and that it will be possible to apply the funds which are being collected to relieve cases of severe damage caused by the same storm in the mainland areas?

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, I can give the noble Lord the assurance he has asked for. The damage in Caithness and Sutherland was not so severe as in Orkney, but it was severe enough. The funds available will be administered through county committees for each county concerned.

LORD CLYDESMUIR

My Lords, I thank my noble friend.