AKK 2431
HEREVER IN ASSITAT NO. JA 31 DEC 1979
INSER
мо
31.12
347
[Mr. Goverr
of Lor
18 DECEMBER 1979
he House
ssed, and there a
chers who could UC ProHIVICA,” ine Government have had a few months now to experience the performance of Ministers, so this change could be made in a normal re- shuffle in the Christmas Recess.
This could be done without notice, ex- cept for the fact that some of us will be watching for it. It could have been done, I submit, in a much more honourable fashion last Thursday, when the Law Lords made their decision. On those oc- casions when I have raised the matter, it could be argued that it was held back on the grounds that the Law Lords might come down in favour of the companies and not the Revenue. In the event, the Law Lords came down 4 to 1 in favour of the Revenue.
Midday on Thursday last week would have been a suitable opportunity for the hon. and learned Gentleman to offer his resignation. The Gentleman could not have resigned at 11 am, following the judgment, because with my right hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Barnett) the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury he was speaking at a conference on tax avoidance organi- sed by Accountants Weekly. I was
(Christmas)
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brought to Britain and given temporary hospitality in a number of resettlement camps, such as Nelson Hall in Stafford- shire, where they are being taught Eng- lish and something of the English way of life, and it is hoped, indeed, expected, that they will be welcomed by local com- munities for permanent settlement.
I am delighted to say that, in my con- stituency area, the East Staffordshire district council was among the earliest authorities in the country to offer to house these people. It offered houses to five families who had survived the horrors of the South China Sea and arrived at Hong Kong in the famous "Sibonga ". A voluntary support group of active people in Burton on Trent immediately ensured a welcome and continuing pro- cession of good neighbour, help and friendship activities, which has made sure that the Vietnamese settle happily into the area.
I wish to ask how the resettlement of the 10,000 boat people is progressing. I
have heard little of similar activities to those taking place in Burton on Trent, although I have no doubt that they are taking place all over the country. There has not been much publicity. I know that the Ockenden venture, which is doing a superb job at Nelson Hall, has had great difficulty in getting local authorities sitting at the back listening to what they culty in getting organised support groups to offer sufficient housing, and some diffi-
had to say when the decision by the Law Lords was made.
The position of the hon. and learned Member for Dover and Deal is untenable. My honourable Friends and I will pursue the matter vigorously until we can show to people outside that this House of Com- mons is taking seriously the present and continuing decline in standards of conduct of public life, typified by this case.
6.20 pm
Mr. Ivan Lawrence (Burton): I should not like the House to rise for the Christ- mas Recess without giving further thought to the English dimension of the problem of the Vietnamese boat people. Time is exceedingly short. I shall not make a speech on the matter, but I should like reassurance from the Government on two important points.
We have done our humane duty as a civilised nation in accepting for settle- mcnt 10,000 of these victims of insuffer- able racial persecution. They have been
18 L 40
to provide furniture and transport and all the back-up help that is needed to settle these families into local com- munities.
There must be an inexhaustible fund of charity in the hearts of British citi- zens, so what is happening? Are all the families spoken for? If not, how many remain to be helped? What is anyone doing about the matter? Which local authorities have accepted numbers of families to be settled? Which have re- fused? What more can be done to help? We should not simply feel that our con- sciences are clear because the Govern ment have allowed 10,000 people to settle somewhere in the country. That is not enough. Those local authorities that are able to settle refugees but have refused to do so should be ashamed of themselves. They should be made known.
I wonder whether my right hon. Friend knows of the highly unsatisfactory situa tion over organised financial aid to the
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Adjour
refugees. The Bur had to sign a prom copy in my hand- lent to them by Ch air fare from Hor repayment of 42 required for 23 m ment being due Naturally, these come to Britain ar to do so signed Equally naturally they could not r short term.
These people s even months, in re at Burton, which mark, they have town only in the 1 They will eventu obviously sufficie available to enabl ing the instalment extremely firighte not meet the first ber 1979 they wo
I raised the ma As one would ex and humanitaria greatly embarrass there was no qu being put on the any date and th was a necessary tion was as unh about any distres as agents for an ICEM.
I raised the m conference on re letter which said
**
There has be about this. The Sta this up with ICEN then with UNIICR
-which I believ High Commission
and the Foreign Some of the volunt refused to act as refunds but Christia to do so for the I have now pointed of Churches, their behalf they were not wish to continu cedure.
At
a later have settled and money, they may the fares to ICEN
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