TNAG-1275-FCO40-1625-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 179

the MSC's Training Division towards the settlement of Vietnamese is che

development under its Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) of English as

a second language for training for ethnic minorities. These are of course

open to the Vietnamese; in fact two of the rules that normally apply to TOPS

applicants that they should be aged 19 or over on commencing a TOPS

course and that, in order to do so, they must have been away from full-tice

education for at least 2 years, have been relaxed so that refugees can

become eligible for TOPS courses as soon as they arrive in this country.

I understand that certain areas such as the North East, South West, and

Yorkshire and Humberside, have set up courses to cater specifically for

the language training needs of concentrations of Vietnamese refugees

located within their boundaries. The report recognises that because of

the wide dispersal of the Vietnamese some problems have arisen on recruitment

for training courses. The MSC Training Division have, therefore, agreed to

set up a pilot work-related skills-linked language course purely for Vietnamese which is intended to overcome this problem by recruiting people from more than one area. A meeting between representatives of the MSC,

the British Refugee Council and Ockenden Venture was, I understand, held

in November to discuss arrangements for this and it has now been decided

that the South West Region should be responsible for administering such a

course. The Region's training staff are now deciding in which institutica

it would be most appropriate to run this course and it is hoped that the

first will begin in April 1983.

B1 Division contribution on immigration issues. 7

It is, of course, disappointing that such a small percentage of people in Vietnam who have been granted entry visas to the UK have been permitted exit visas by the Vietnamese authorities under the Orderly Departure

Programme. I know that our Embassy in Hanoi works very closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees on the spot, and, we hope, with perseverance to secure a reasonable and consistent flow of arrivals.

It will serve

I

I am much indebted to the Joint Committee for their report.

as a most useful document in helping to determine policy for any future

refugee intake and in drawing attention to the needs of the Vietnamese.

earnestly hope that the continuing efforts of the Joint Committee will be successful in partnership with local authorities, other statutory services,

and voluntary groups in finding ways of putting the support the Vietnamese still need onto a viable basis now that the main programme has drawn to a

close.

5.