that t e was no major outbreak of illness among the Vietnamese, the medical arrangements appear to have been effective. However, there were criticisms about certain aspects of the health care arrangements made for the Vietnamese and the Department of Health and Social Security is considering how they might be improved in any future programme.
Education in reception centres
As the Joint Committee recognise, the Vietnamese presented an exceptionally difficult challenge for the education service. They arrived destitute and in a state of shock, with very few having any knowledge of English. It is thus a tribute to all those concerned that the report can point to examples of extremely high standards of teaching in some centres. In the circumstances it would have been surprising if there had not been some difficulties, particularly in areas where there was little experience of teaching English as a second language. It seems to the Government right that the main responsibility for employing teachers in reception centres should normally rest with the local education authorities. This reflects the way education is organised in this country, and the objective of introducing the refugees to normal education provision as quickly as possible. I am sure that those local authorities involved with the reception programme will have benefited from the experience; in particular, there may be lessons to be learned about the selection of teachers and their relationship with the refugee organisations.
Unaccompanied minors
None of us had anticipated so many unaccompanied minors. The arguments for caring for these children as the agencies are doing appear entirely convincing and we are indeed indebted to them for the skilled care they provide and their understanding of the children's needs. The Government has accepted its responsibility, having admitted these minors, by making financial support available to the agencies for the children's care.
I understand that member agencies of the JCRV have had a recent opportunity to discuss with the Department of Health and Social Security officials a number of questions about the status of these minors and the assumption of parental rights and duties by the refugee organisations, a matter, as I am sure you know, for the relevant local authority to determine in the light of the circumstances of each case. I understand that no major problems were identified at that meeting. These are, however, important issues and if any difficulties emerge I am sure that the Department of Health and Social Security will be happy to discuss them.
Settlement policy
Turning now to the report's comments on the way the Vietnamese have been settled in this country the difficulty in finding housing and the policy of dispersed settlement the Government's traditional aim when a special programme is established for refugees has been to help provide them with survival skills and an initial launch into the community.
Thereafter they have relied on local agencies, statutory and voluntary, to make available housing and to meet the needs of the refugees in the same way as they meet those of other sections of the community, including, so far as they are able within their resources, any special needs. Within this traditional approach the concept of dispersed settlement appeared to ease the business of finding housing for so many families, and so to speed up the settlement of the Vietnamese in the community. The report does, however, make a number of cogent points about the practica effects of this policy in the Vietnamese programme and we shall take account of those in our contingency plans for any future large-scale refugee intake.
/The continuing
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