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DRAFT
Sir Arthur Peterson, KCB, IVO
REPORT BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
In my letter of 22 December I undertook to reply to the recommendations of the report of the Joint Committee for Refugees from Vietnam once the necessary consultations within this Department and with other Departments
had been completed. I am now in a position to do so.
In its recommendations the report concentrates on the lessons of this programme which may be of relevance for the future and on the measures which ought to be taken to help with the problems which face the Vietnamese
who have now been received.
Lessons from the Vietnamese Reception and Settlement Programme
Dealing first with the lessons of this programme, I note your views on the merits of conducting any future programme through a central organisation
similar to the Joint Committee. I note also your recommendations on how
such an organisation might be widened and strengthened. I certainly agree with the report on the merits of partnership between Government and voluntary bodies and I have already expressed my admiration for the
achievements of the Joint Committee in this programme. Quite how we respond in terms of organisation to any future refugee intake would, of course, depend on the nature of that intake and, as the report recognises, on the capacity of the voluntary bodies. We should, however, certainly
take account of our experience of this programe and of the reports recor
mendations.
As regards the selection process, I am sure you are right about the imper of proper counselling of those who are coming here about life in this
country. We have taken note of this point, and of your other points on
the use of information obtained during selection interviews and the merits
of a permanent selection team presence for any future large scale
contingency.
The agencies are to be congratulated on their achievements in the recepi phase which, although as the report indicates it extended longer then we would have wished, was nevertheless completed without problems of sickats
or disorder. We have noted the report's views on the size and regime of
reception centres. As regards health, to the extent that there was no major outbreak of illness among the Vietnamese, the medical arrangements
appear to have been effective. However, it is recognised that there wer:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.