§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for flood damage aid he has received since May 1979; and of these what proportion have been granted.
Mr. MacKayThere have been floods in various parts of Scotland since May 1979 and in each case aid at the normal rates has been available under the farm capital550W grant schemes towards the cost of restoration works. No central record is kept of individual applications for grant from landowners and fanners who suffer damage from flooding but in each case grant would be available where the prevailing scheme conditions were met.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he defines to be sufficient distinguishing features which permit him to regard a flood as being a special case and consequently a candidate for enhanced aid; and how many such cases he has approved since taking office.
§ Mr. John MacKayA special case would be one where exceptionally unusual weather and local ground conditions led to a flood of a degree of highly infrequent occurrence, resulting in severe damage over a wide area in each of the catchments affected and involving properties where the provision of protection against damage could not reasonably have been expected to withstand such a flood. No such cases have been approved between May 1979 to date.