TNAG-0557-FCO40-652-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-othe-1975 — Page 32

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13 MAY 1975

Adjournment (Spring) further restrictions can be justified. We recently introduced import surveillance arrangements which will enable us to monitor promptly and precisely a wide range of textile imports and which will help us to decide what further action, if any, may be necessary.

The British Textile Confederation has proposed a 20 per cent. cut across the board on the level of imports. Hon. Members have vigorously pursued their campaign in support of that proposal. Such restrictions would have major implications for Government policy. How- ever, we are carefully considering all the possible consequences of the proposal before reaching a decision.

The hon. Gentleman also raised the question of the footwear industry, of imports of men's leather footwear from Eastern Europe in particular. We are well aware that the high level of imports is causing great concern to the United Kingdom footwear industry. We have been holding a series of consultations with Czechoslovakia, Poland and

Romania about the level of their exports of men's leather footwear to the United Kingdom. The discussions have taken longer than we would have wished but it is expected to be possible very shortly to make an announcement about their outcome. I hope that the hon. Gentle- man will find the announcement to his satisfaction.

The hon. Gentleman also raised the question of mobile homes. There is a point here. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was in the House last Friday when the Mobile Homes Bill was discussed. He will see at column 182 of the Official Report for 9th May that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment replied on that point.

My hon. Friend the Member for Lam- beth, Central (Mr. Lipton) made two useful suggestions, one to save money. which I shall consider, and the other to spend money by providing envelopes for constituents to write to their Mem- bers. When I was Postmaster-Generai in the last Labour Government I tried out a similar idea on a modest scale for retired people and people living alone. I shall pass on my hon. Friend's sugges-

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tion to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to see what she thinks about it.

I am as much concerned as my hon. Friend about New Palace Yard. I under- stand that it is likely to be finished in the autumn. The lime trees are to be pleached, but it will be some time before they reach out their arms to grasp each other.

On that note, I commend the motion to the House.

Sir Frederic Bennett: The right hon. Gentleman knows of my interest in a very human matter. I have done my best to raise with him whether we may have a definitive statement about our attitude towards the Vietnamese refugees, with particular reference to those stranded in Hong Kong. When I asked the right hon. Gentleman about the matter a few days ago, I think that he misunderstood. He referred me to a general Written Question, which I could not have seen then and which made it clear that the only refugees coming here would be those with close ties and connections with this country. There are obviously not many of them. As no such limitations were placed on the Chilean refugees, wde are entitled to a statement to make sure that there is no element of double standards. These are matters of real hardship involving many thousands of people, including some for colonial Government. whom we have direct responsibility as the

Mr. Short: I know that the hon. Gen- tleman is very concerned about the ques- tion, as are a number of hon. Members. I replied off the cuff last Thursday. I remembered a Written Question down for that day, and I am afraid I breached the rules of order by quoting the answer. I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for that. I realise that it was not quite on the point he was making. I shall pass on to my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Com- tleman has said and put the hon. Gentle- monwealth Secretary what the hon. Gen-

man's suggestion to him.

Question fuit antt agreed-to.

Resolved,

That this House at its rising on Friday 23rd May do adjourn till Monday 9th June.

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