HC Deb 23 November 1979 vol 974 cc357-8W
Mr. Chris Patten

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the United Kingdom will have completed the resettlement of the existing quota of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong at the present rate of progress;

(2) how many more Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong will need to be resettled in the United Kingdom before the United Kingdom will have discharged its existing commitment to them;

(3) how many Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong have been resettled in the United Kingdom in each calendar month since it was first agreed to give them a home in the United Kingdom;

(4) how many Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong have now been resettled in the United Kingdom

Mr. Raison

The Government agreed in July to accept a further 10,000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong in addition to the quota of 1,000 agreed in January by the previous Administration. I understand from the joint committee for refugees from Vietnam that the numbers of Vietnamese refugees arriving from Hong Kong since February are as follows:

1979
February 45
March 45
April 90
May 15
June 0
July 50
August 60
September 170
October 1,055
Total 1,530

These figures are subject to revision and have been rounded. They do not include refugees rescued at sea by British ships. It is hoped that another 1,500 will arrive during the course of November and December, but it is too early to say how soon it will be possible to complete the programme of arrivals assumed by our undertakings.