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as some other countries, taking refugees from the ethnic group or occupational category with the best prospects of settlement. Unlike France, we did not insist on language ability and previous links with our country; nor was there an existing Vietnamese community here to receive them. Yet even these other countries have encountered severe problems, and some have found it necessary to continue to provide some degree of special help for these vulnerable refugees. Our problems in the UK are greater than theirs, (certainly we are aware of no level of unemployment to match ours) and still require a major effort on our part to overcome.
39. In our previous report we argued that the single most effective step which Government could take to help the Vietnamese would be to extend section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. Though Government has indicated that there are no plans to amend the law, our view remains the same and we support the local authority associations in the representations which they have made to us on this point. If the Government cannot accede then we urge it to consider seriously the associations' other suggestion that expenditure by authorities on the Vietnamese might be exempted from financial penalty.
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40. We believe that the major task in which the refugee agencies have been engaged working to raise the level of response within our own society, stimulating local initiatives in the areas of employment, language and interpretation, social support and health, and strengthening the Vietnamese community itself must continue, and that the agencies have a crucial role to play since they have the expertise which many local authorities have yet to acquire and it is they who will have to receive and settle future boat rescues and family reunion arrivals. Government must, however, will the means for this work and if it could respond favourably to either of the proposals put forward by the local authority associations the problems to be dealt with would be considerably lessened. The agencies have already drawn up proposals for a 3 year programme of work in all a programme lasting 5 years from the end of the main reception programme. Support of this programme would seem to offer a reasonable prospect of the emergence of sound self-help groups and local schemes. The process of secondary migration should by then be complete, and still-divided families reunited.
41. If Government agrees with us on the need for further expenditure and if it decides that this should be channelled through the refugee agencies we will, of course, present our costed proposals in greater detail for consideration.
42. The Vietnamese are a resourceful people who, given a reasonable chance, will contribute fully to the diversity of life in our society and to the prosperity of the UK. They are also a young community: 60% are under 25 years of age. In society's own interests we should ensure that their present limited opportunities, lack of access to services and inability to participate fully in our way of life do not lead to the growth of frustration, and to hostility between them and other elements in the community. The danger of such a development is evident from experience with other minorities in our own country and abroad and the risk is particularly high with a group such as the Vietnamese refugees who have no links with this country and whose gratitude for the shelter which they have been given needs to be sustained by confidence that they are welcome as permanent members of the community and that their difficulties in adapting to our way of life are given practical recognition.
9.