§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the assistance to be given to Scottish local authorities and farmers who suffered losses as a result of the storms and floods of winter 1977
§ Mr. MillanOn 22nd March—[Vol. 946, c. 554–5]—I announced that assistance would be given to local authorities and farmers in Scotland for losses sustained during the storms of last winter. The Government have now decided to augment by about £300,000, from the aid promised by the EEC, the Great Britain Fund set up by the Farmers' Unions to assist farmers who suffered livestock losses. This Fund now stands at over £110,000.
I can also make available to local authorities about £200,000, the balance of the EEC aid promised for Scotland after deducting the estimated Scottish contribution to the livestock fund. As I announced on 22nd March, local authorities will receive a special grant of 75 per cent. of the extra cost they have incurred in excess of the equivalent of 2.27 times the standard penny rate product of
224Wvey by my Department, due to be completed by the end of the year, suggest that the number of children not receiving any education is now very small, but this can not be estimated satisfactorily until the survey is complete. Information about the numbers of mentally handicapped pupils and teachers is given in the following table:
each authority. I intend to distribute the balance of the EEC aid in accordance with the severity of the residual burden falling on local rate payers after payment of the 75 per cent. special grant.