HOME OFFICE PRESS RELEASE
The Vietnamese refugee programme, under which some 16,000 Vietnamese have been received and settled in the United Kingdom, is now virtually complete. Only 160 remain in reception centres, and it is anticipated that by the end of January all should be settled in their new homes.
The Joint Committee for Refugees from Vietnam, which has had responsibility for conduct of this programme, has made its report to the Home Secretary. In a Written Answer to
today, the Home Secretary
said: -
#t
The report describes the Joint Committee's conduct of the reception and resettlement programme for the Vietnamese; points to lessons for the future, and draws attention to the continuing difficulties and needs of the Vietnamese in the areas they have settled.
I am most grateful for all that has been done by the Joint Committee, the refugee agencies, local authorities, housing associations, local support groups and individual volunteers to assist the reception and settlement of some 16,000 refugees from Vietnam. I have accepted the Committee's recommendation that the three refugee agencies currently involved in the Vietnamese programme (the British Refugee Council, the Ockenden Venture and Refugee Action) should continue to receive Government funds to help them provide a variety of support services during 1983/84. There is also a need to consider what continuing support may be needed by the refugees, by the local authorities and by the other agencies caring for refugees and how this can best be provided. With the agreement of its Chairman, Sir Arthur Peterson KCB MVO, I have asked the Joint Committee to continue in being for a further period in order that it may examine these questions and explore ways of resolving them.