§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the financial and other assistance given to individuals and local authorities following the floods in Strathclyde during December 1994. [18998]
§ Mr. KynochThe Government have assisted both individuals and local authorities in dealing with the consequences of the flooding. Resources totalling over £7 million have been made available including
£100,000 supplementary capital allocation to Renfrew district council in 1994–95, to provide temporary accommodation for those made homeless;£150,000 supplementary housing capital allocation to Strathkelvin district council in 1994–95 to undertake flood abatement works at Lennoxtown;£200,000 supplemental: capital allocation to Glasgow district council in 1994–95 to undertake urgent housing repairs;£1.365 million supplementary capital allocations to Strathclyde regional council in 1994–95 for urgent repair work on non-housing services;authorising Renfrew district council to carry forward unutilised capital consent of up to a maximum of £1.85 million from 1994–95 for expenditure in 1995–96;authorising Strathkelvin district council to carry forward unutilised capital consent of up to a maximum of £0.53 million from 1994–95 for expenditure in 1995–96;£2.5 million additional capital allocations in 1995–96 for remedial work on housing to Renfrew district council and Strathkelvin district council;£10,000 contribution to Clyde river purification board study on the cause and extent of the recent flooding; andan increase of £180,000 in the 1995–96 non-housing capital consent allocation to Renfrew district council to meet the cost of repairs to the Linwood sports centre.£120,000 from DSS social fund for payments to individuals in need.In addition, the Government scheme of special financial assistance, known as the Bellwin scheme, has been activated.
A draft national planning policy guideline on planning and flooding has recently been issued for consultation.