§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the expert hydrologists who will carry out the independent survey of the causes of the flooding in the River Tay valley on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 February will have powers to investigate the operation of the hydro board water control measures on these dates.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe independent study will be overseen by a working group of interested parties 93W and the consultants will be free to investigate any matters within the agreed terms of reference. Scottish Hydro-Electric plc is represented on the working group and we would expect any relevant information to be made available.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the powers(a) under which the independent survey of the flooding in February in the River Tay valley will be carried out and (b) under which his Department is funding the survey.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe independent consultant is to be appointed by Tayside regional council which has powers under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to investigate, and collect information relating to, any matter concerning its area.
The Government's contribution towards the cost of the survey will he made under the authority of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 and the Appropriation Act.