f) To monitor and report to the Home Office on the progress of the reception
and resettlement programme (Secretariat).
To provide regular statistical returns on rates of inflow, resettlement
etc for the Home Office and other interested bodies (Secretariat).
h) To undertake any necessary co-ordination work in the general fields of
resettlement.
i) To co-ordinate views on policy and operational matters relating to the
refugee programme which affect the voluntary refugee organisations general and which may require a unified approach; and to co-ordinate any necessary approaches to other agencies.
j) To arrange for exchanges of experience between the voluntary refugee
organisations on matters of general operational interest.
In general terms, the Joint Committee will act as the point at which the efforts of the voluntary organisations, who operationally will retain their individuality, are brought, into common focus for the purposes of monitoring and, (within overall Government policy) planning. It is hoped that The Advisory Council will provide a source of guidance from a wider specturm of interests. These new arrangemnets come into operation as from today
At this stage we expect that local authorities will need to liase directly with the Secretariat on matters of general operational interest to the voluntary bodies as a whole. The Home Office continues to be responsible for the co-ordination of Government refugee policy and any questions arising in this field should, of course, continue to be directed to us. Local authorities will continue to deal direct with any voluntary refugee organisations concerning the opening or operation of specific refugee reception centres. It is possible, however, that they may receive approaches from the Secretariat on behalf of the voluntary bodies as a whole about the availability of reception centre accommodation; and local authorities should feel free to contact the Secretariat on any matters of operational policy which they think has implications for the voluntary bodies generally. The new arrangements assume a particular importance, however, in the context of the permanent resettlement of the refugees The Secretariat should be regarded as the point of liaison with the voluntary bodies for any offers of permanent housing or any communication on resettlement prospects in their area. It will then be for the Secretariat to involve the individual voluntary bodies as seems appropriate. The new arrangement should not, of course, affect existing discussions with the voluntary bodies on arrangements in specific areas; nor does it mean that local authorities should not inform a voluntary body with whom they already have direct relationship of any new offers of accommodation which they may be making. It is most important, however, from the point of view of the resettlement programme as a whole that the Secretariat should be regarded as the principal point to which notification of any new offers should be made.
We should therefore be very grateful if the local authority associations could inform their member authorities of the creation of this new machinery and in particular draw to their attention that offers of accommodation for resettlement should henceforth be directed to:
The Secretary
Joint Committee for Refugees from Vietnam
Hepburn House
Marsham Street
LONDON SW1F AHW
2.