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The paper describes and discusses possible measures (paragraphs 7-10), but the conclusion is that the Environment Secretary cannot support them. If Mr Patten accepts this line, it would I suggest be presentationally better to headline the message at the start of the paper, say in a new second paragraph along the following lines:
3.
"Officials have identified measures which could be applied to make settlement by refugees in areas of housing shortage more difficult, and thereby to divert them to other parts of the country where housing pressures are less. I have [reluctantly]
concluded however that these measures involve difficulties which outweigh their likely benefit."
The paper needs to explain the numbers which are quoted. As noted above, OD agreed on 8 June that 1,000 should be admitted. In December 1988 it had been agreed to accept 1,000 for resettlement over the next 2-3 years. This gives the 2,000. I suggest this might be explained early in the paper, and it would be helpful also to say how many of these have already arrived and when the rest are expected.
4.
The last three sentences of paragraph 3 state a need for a local support structure and funds to finance it, but leave this rather hanging in the air. It would be helpful if the paper could state what plans if any already exist to provide this support, what additional resources are needed, and whether you are making any proposals in the paper itself.
5. Paragraphs 7 and 8 point out that the measures in question would require legislation; you could add that there is no suitable vehicle for such legislation in the legislative programme for the 1989/90 Session, unless the Social Security Bill could be extended to cover these options.
6. If Mr Patten recommends against the measures in paragraphs 7 and 8, I would advise you to omit paragraph 12, since it anticipates failure. If colleagues decide to pursue the measures they will automatically commission follow-up work.
7. Paragraph 13 should I suggest explain the "positive dispersal approach", particularly since this looks like being the paper's only solution to the problem identified by Mr Ridley. The object of the exercise described in the last sentence of the paragraph, and the means of achieving it, should be clearly explained; otherwise it will look like no more than a pious exhortation.
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