Cash aid for flood-ravaged area

The Government promised cash aid to the flood-ravaged Moray area in northern Scotland last night as farmers and householders counted the cost of the damage. Donald Dewar, the Secretary of State for Scotland, announced that he was activating the Bellwin Scheme governing council spending in large-scale emergencies.

This means Moray Council will pay the first pounds 162,000 of its additional costs, but the Government will pick up 85 per cent of the bill above that. But that only covers the council's uninsurable costs - and the cost to farmers, householders and insurance companies is set to run into millions.