§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of the aftermath of the floods in Paisley and Johnstone since February 1995, excluding the visits he and his Ministers paid to the area before then; what benchmark he has used to assess the effect to people's lives and the need for new flood prevention measures since the floods; how such assessments have involved or resulted in the consultation of flood victims; when he next plans to revisit the area to discuss the longer-term impact of flooding on the lives of people'; and if he will make a statement. [28571]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe effects of the floods have been full considered by the Scottish Office and by Ministers. However, the assessment of flood prevention needs in Paisley and Johnstone is essentially for Strathclyde regional council. An internal report by the council has concluded that it would not be practicable for it to undertake any further major flood prevention works. Indeed, the council has undertaken only one scheme in its 20 years' existence, despite the wide powers available under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 and the availability of Government grant.
For the Government's part, we have already proposed a number of measures to enhance the statutory and planning framework so that councils may take well-informed decisions on flooding matters in the light of local concerns and the public interest.
Participating schools 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–951 Aberlour House 8 7 10 11 9 Albyn School 23 20 18 19 24 Ardvreck School 2 3 3 5 6 Beaconhurst School 6 6 10 13 9 Belhaven Hill School 3 3 2 1 2 Belmont House School 20 23 23 26 25 Blairmore School 5 4 3 School closed Butterstone School 4 5 2 4 5 Cargilfield School 4 4 4 14 4 Clifton Hall School 7 7 8 7 6 Craigclowan School 9 9 9 12 10 Craigholme School 39 36 38 145 45 Crawfordton House School 6 6 6 6 6 Croftinloan School 4 5 6 6 4 Dollar Academy 68 59 71 72 72 Drumley House School 5 3 3 2 2 Edinburgh Academy 48 50 52 54 54 Fernhill School 29 30 34 134 30 Fettes College 32 33 40 39 35 Fort Augustus School 33 34 28 School closed George Heriot's School 236 247 247 250 255 George Watson's College 243 238 234 238 248 Glasgow Academy 37 89 98 98 90 Glenalmond College 30 33 33 38 41 Gordonstoun School 26 29 28 128 31 Hamilton College 12 14 15 14 14 High School of Dundee 182 180 197 196 194 High School of Glasgow 38 39 45 49 48 Hutcheson's Grammer School 135 138 152 157 163 Keil School 66 67 66 65 69 Kelvinside Academy 58 67 80 85 87 Kilgraston School 51 53 59 52 54 Kilquhanity School 18 18 20 20 11 Lathallan School 5 5 6 6 6 Laurel Bank School 54 53 53 60 63