E.R.
Housing
12
The resettlement rate, of course, depends primarily on the availability
of the right sort of housing. Here there is still much to be done.
I am very grateful to those housing authorities and housing
associations who have already offered housing for the refugees - but the successful completion of the programme requires that the
flow of offers should be maintained over the coming months and
that there should be close liaison between local authorities and
voluntary agencies on the dates on which these houses can be made
available. Some authorities may have been hesitating before
offering homes to the Vietnamese. I would urge them to look at
neighbouring areas where refugees have been settled. I think they
will be encouraged by what they see. To those authorities that
already have experience of the Vietnamese I would say, please
consider, in the light of your own experience, whether a few more
houses could now be offered. I am, of course, aware of the
difficulties facing local authorities. But despite these
difficulties I am glad to say that offers are still coming in and
I hope that we will be able to find ways of ensuring that enough housing becomes available.
/Education