§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the aid which will be available in Tayside following the damage caused by the recent storms and floods.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonWe are still receiving reports of recent storm and flood damage. Scottish Office finance circular No. 4/1990 issued on 8 February reminded local athorities of the Bellwin scheme under which the Government may give special financial assistance if they consider that an emergency situation has arisen in which an undue financial burden has fallen on a community. Circular No. 6/1989 which contained full details of the scheme was sent to all authorities on 28 April 1989.
Authorities have been advised that if they consider that Bellwin applies in relation to the relevant flooding they should give details to the Scottish Office as soon as. possible.
My hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State is visiting some of the affected area on 14–15 February.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total sums paid out from 347W Government funds under the Bellwin formula in Scotland for each of the last 10 years; and if he will show for each year the total sums received by each local authority.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 13 February 1990]: The Bellwin formula came into existence in 1983–84, and since then the following amounts have been paid by way of special financial assistance in Scotland:
Year and authority Amount £ 1989–90 Highland Regional Council 1187,178 Inverness District Council 126,325 Western Isles Islands Council 112,652 1 These payments represent 90 per cent, of grants amounting in total to £251,283 in respect of the floods and storms of February 1989.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now review the Bellwin formula governing the sums paid out of public funds to defray costs of repairs following storm damage in Scotland to permit compensation to be paid by the Government where the works to be carried out include an element of betterment.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 13 February 1990]: I cannot support the suggested change. The Bellwin scheme is operated on a nationwide basis to ensure equal and fair treatment in emergency situations. The scheme is intended to alleviate any undue burden on authorities which have to meet exceptional expenditure in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.
Where improvements to property to combat severe weather are thought necessary, they should be tackled within existing procedures for planning and approving expenditure programmes, preferably when new facilities are developed.
Persons with a charge proved (excluding companies) given a custodial sentence, 1984–88 Males Females Percentage of persons with a charge proved given a custodial sentence Year Prison Other1 custodial sentences All custodial sentences Prison Other1 custodial sentences All custodial sentences Percentage of persons with a charge proved given a custodial sentence 1984 8,639 4,737 13,376 326 59 385 7.3 1985 9,606 5,377 14,983 460 144 604 8.2 1986 9,312 5,293 14,605 546 194 740 8.3 1987 8,759 4,682 13,441 534 179 713 7.9 1988 9,091 4,176 13,267 660 94 754 7.9 1 Includes detention in a young offenders' institution or a detention centre.