1351
Rural
[Baroness David.]
[LORDS]
We have had a full debate; the problems of our rural communities will not dis- appear overnight. But I do think that, in the past few years, we have taken steps to stem the slide and that the future now holds growing promise for efforts to maintain the distinctive lifestyle of our rural areas. We owe much, in this respect, to the great interest displayed in this subject by a wide range of people, an interest which this present debate has served to stress and, I hope, to amplify, One or two other questions have been raised by noble Lords and I shall be happy to answer them in writing.
7.49 p.m.
Lord WALSTON: My Lords, it is quite clear that the whole House will agree with me when I offer congratulations to the noble Baroness, Lady David, on the masterly way in which she has summed up this debate, answered so very many of the questions raised and, on top of that and far more important, given us a very encouraging rundown of what the Govern- ment have done and are doing. For all those who are interested in this problem, and that is a great many people, it is very valuable to have all these activities put together so clearly and so concisely. I know that we are all very grateful to the noble Baroness for doing this. It is hard to believe that it is the first time she has made a speech from the Dispatch Box. I am, of course, also grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part, as well as to all noble Baronesses. Today, by those who have spoken, the House has shown how very well equipped it is to deal with a wide range of subjects and how many noble Lords there are in your Lordships' House who, from their own personal experience over a very long time, under- stand what these problems of the country- side are.
As I understand it, the general tenor of the debate has been an agreement that there is some form of deprivation in large parts of the countryside. Possibly the only exception to that was the speech by the noble Baroness, Lady Vickers, who seems to live in an idyllic village which, if she allowed us to, I am sure we should all dearly enjoy visiting. With that possible exception, I believe there is agreement that some form of deprivation exists.
UNS 2437.
Deprivation
1352
Some noble Lords have laid greater stress on one aspect than on owners. Some have been rather more optimistic; some have been rather less optimistic. I must confess that to my mind some have shown undue optimism; but even those who have been the most optimistic all agree that more must be done. We are happy to know how much is being done, how much thought is being given to this and what good results are being achieved. I hope that this debate will encourage those who are doing these things, will stimulate those who, perhaps, are not doing quite all they might be doing and will lead to still further research work of the kind which the noble Baroness men- tioned is being carried out, and then action. My Lords, I beg leave to withdraw my Motion.
Motion for Papers, by leave, withdrawn.
INDO-CHINA: REFUGEE
7.52 p.m.
PROBLEM
3846A
Lord ELTON rose to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take note of the tragic predicament of over 200,000 refugees from Indo-China still in search of permanent refuge, of the causes of this pathetic and still continuing exodus and of the implications which these have for British foreign policy. The noble Lord said: My Lords, my Question concerns the refugees from Indo-China. Fourteen months ago I asked your Lordships to consider the same matter. The situation then was tragic and now it is worse, and worse by a great deal. In South East Asia there are at present about 205,000 refugees from Indo-China alone, of whom incidentally over 100,000 are children. It is as though the entire population of Hounslow, or the whole population of Aberdeen and a tenth of the population of Dundee had been stripped of every possession and scattered along the coast- line of Europe from Denmark to Portugal. Two hundred and five thousand is a very large number, but it does not include the 13,000 refugees in the tiny colony of Hong Kong. It does not include the 150,000 who fled from Cambodia into Vietnam before that country invaded their homeland. Of course, the terms of my Question exclude the huge numbers who fled from Burmah into Bangladesh.
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RECEIVED MIK &
DESK
INDEX
14 MAY 1979
Page 60Page 61