§ Sir J. Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a comprehensive statement on the loss of farm stock, particularly sheep, and damage to property, particularly telephone and electricity communications, in the recent snow storm in Angus and Perthshire.
§ Mr. MaclayAs a result of the snow storm in Angus and Perthshire on 19th January one or two cases of abnormal losses of sheep have been reported (exact figures are not known), but according to such information as I have losses of farm stock have not been general. As in other affected areas, communications were severely dislocated for a short time, but all main roads and railways were, as a result of the energetic measures taken, re-opened to traffic by 21st January.
Fifteen telephone exchanges, including eight in Angus and seven in Perthshire, were temporarily isolated, about 1,400 faults were reported, and there was some interruption of electricity supplies due to damage to overhead lines. Fortunately, there was no loss of life: cases of personal injury were confined to one person injured in a road accident and one suffering from exposure; and no serious damage to property occurred.