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THE VIETNAMESE IN BRITAIN. IT CONCLUDED THAT THE VIETNAMESE HAVE
CONTINUING DIFFICULTIES FOR WHICH SPECIAL HELP IS REQUIRED. THE
GOVERNMENT AGREES. CURRENTLY IT IS SUPPORTING THE VOLUNTARY
REFUGEE AGENCIES IN A THREE YEAR PROGRAMME, THE AIM OF WHICH IS
TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY OF THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY AND OF
STATUTORY AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES TO THE POINT AT WHICH THE
VIETNAMESE CAN BECOME SELF-RELIANT AND INTEGRATED. IN THE LIGHT
OF THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT AND ITS OWN ASSESSMENT THE GOVERNMENT
HAS DECIDED:
(A)
(B)
TO INCREASE FUNDING OF THE VIETNAMESE PROGRAMME BY 50 PER
CENT, FROM ITS PRESENT LEVEL OF POUNDS STERLING 260,000 A
YEAR. THE EXTRA POUNDS STERLING 130,000 A YEAR WILL BE
USED MAINLY TO FUND EXTRA AGENCY WORKERS, BOTH VIETNAMESE
AND BRITISH, IN THOSE PARTS OF BRITAIN IN WHICH THE NEEDS
ARE THE GREATEST:
TO EXTEND THE PROGRAMME FOR A FURTHER FULL YEAR, THAT IS
UNTIL MARCH 1988.
OVER ITS REMAINING LIFE, THEREFORE, THE VIETNAMESE
PROGRAMME WILL HAVE A FRESH INJECTION OF FUNDS OF WELL OVER
POUNDS STERLING 500,000.
THE TWO MAIN PROBLEMS FACING REFUGEES ARE UNEMPLOYMENT
AND HOUSING. THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONDING POSITIVELY TO THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT A JOINT WORKING GROUP BE ESTABLISHED OF HOME
OFFICE, MSC AND REFUGEE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES. IT WILL
ESTABLISH AN INFORMAL GROUP WITH THIS MEMBERSHIP WHICH WILL BE
CONCERNED IN PARTICULAR WITH THE NEED FOR THE OTHER, SMALLER,
REFUGEE GROUPS WITH SPECIAL LABOUR MARKET NEEDS TO HAVE ACCESS TO
RELEVANT EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROVISION.
THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLY RECOGNISES THE CRUCIAL ROLE IN
ASSISTING VIETNAMESE SETTLEMENT PLAYED BY THE BRITISH REFUGEE
COUNCIL, WITH OCKENDEN VENTURE, REFUGEE ACTION AND ITS OTHER
CONSTITUENT ORGANISATIONS AND IT CONFIRMS THAT THEIR CONSTRUCTIVE
STRATEGIES, NOW INCREASINGLY RESPONSIVE TO THE VIEWS OF THE
VIETNAMESE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES, ENJOY ITS FULL SUPPORT.
PART III
IN THE THIRD PART OF ITS REPORT THE COMMITTEE MADE A
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