§ 44 and 45. Mr. Websterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what financial assistance the Government will give to local authorities taking action in anticipation of oil pollution, following the oil escape from the "Torrey Canyon";
(2) what percentage grant will be given to local authorities incurring expenditure to protect amenities from oil pollution.
§ Mr. GreenwoodAdditional expenditure reasonably incurred on preventive measures and in anticipating oil pollution will qualify for a 75 per cent. Exchequer grant. If, after payment of that grant, local authorities are left with a burden in excess of the product of a twopenny rate, additional grant will be made.
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46. Mr. Geoffrey Wilsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will increase to 100 per cent. grants to local authorities to meet the costs of oil pollution caused by the "Torrey Canyon" disaster; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe arrangements already announced will ensure that there is no heavy burden on the rates and may, I think, fairly be described as generous.
§ 47. Mr. Loveysasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to give 100 per cent. grants to local authorities to meet the cost of oil pollution caused by the "Torrey Canyon" disaster; and whether he will make a statement and give an assurance that grants will be available to local authorities for any pollution that may occur from other outbreaks in the future.
§ Mr. GreenwoodAs I have said in reply to the hon. Member for Truro, the present arrangements may be fairly described as generous.
I am not in a position to say anything about the arrangements for dealing with possible future disasters.
§ Mr. Websterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will specify what works incurred by local authorities to protect amenities from oil will receive grant from central funds;
(2) if he will publish a schedule of work for which grants from central funds will be provided in anticipation of pollution by oil from the "Torrey Canyon", and the percentage grant to be given for each description of work; and if he will issue a similar schedule for expenditure incurred after pollution.
§ Mr. GreenwoodConditions vary widely from beach to beach and it is not possible to provide a complete schedule of work appropriate in all circumstances, but all additional expenditure reasonably incurred on preventive measures and on the clearance of oil pollution will qualify for Exchequer assistance.
Among items qualifying would be the cost of equipment and materials, the cost of employing specialist and other labour and the extra costs resulting from the diversion of existing local authority staffs from other work.
12WAll proposals for booms and sweeps involving significant expenditure should be submitted to the headquarters which I have set up and no action should be taken without their approval. This is the best way to make use of the available scientific advice and of the experience gained, and of the arrangements made to co-ordinate the supply of material.
As regards the rate of grant I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Oral Questions today.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to assist the Hampshire County Council in preventing oil from the "Torrey Canyon" polluting the Solent and Southampton Water.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe arrangements which the Government have made for assisting local authorities are described in the White Paper published today. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has been in touch with the Hampshire County Council from 29th March onwards.