HL Deb 20 March 1968 vol 290 cc583-4

2.37 p.m.

LORD TWEEDSMUIR

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish a White Paper containing full information as to the extent of recent storm damage in Scotland and proposals for providing financial help both to individual people and to local authorities affected by it.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD HUGHES)

My Lords, the Government do not propose at present to issue a White Paper. It would be impossible to give a full and accurate picture of storm damage to all property, including privately owned property. Government assistance towards expenditure on emergency work and on permanent repairs to local authority property will be such that the costs falling on the authority, after taking account of the proceeds of insurance claims, will not cause an undue burden to fall on the rates. Where local authorities have undertaken responsibility for organising repairs to houses in private ownership they will normally be recovering the costs from the owners concerned. Any deficit falling on the local authority as a result of this work will attract a special 75 per cent. Government grant. This deficit will arise in cases, particularly of owner-occupiers, in which to recover the full cost of the repair would cause hardship even if the recovery were spread over a period of years.

In the case of agriculture and horticulture, assistance will be given where appropriate under the normal improvement schemes. The rates of grant for the Farm Improvement and Horticulture Improvement Schemes are, respectively, 30 per cent. and 38⅓ per cent., both including the 5 per cent. investment grant. Assistance may also be obtained under the Hill Land Improvement Scheme for which the grant is 50 per cent. As regards forestry, we have a report from the Action Group which was set up to advise on the problems of the timber windblow in central Scotland, and we are considering the Forestry Commission's advice on the Group's recommendations. We are urging all Government Departments, local authorities and the wood-using industries in Scotland to give preference to home-grown timber whenever possible in the next two years. We are also appealing to private woodland owners to exercise restraint in felling while the windblown timber is being marketed, and the Commission will restrict its own felling as much as possible.

LORD TWEEDSMUIR

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his detailed and informative reply.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the same conditions apply in England, particularly as regards local authorities, for example on Tyneside, where considerable damage was suffered?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I am quite certain that the noble Lord will receive a more comprehensive reply—perhaps even approaching my own—if he will submit that as another Question at another time.

LORD ROYLE

My Lords, would a Scottish National Government be as generous as the present Government?