§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to the Austrian Government's appeal to share the burden of Polish refugees in that country.
§ Mr. RifkindAfter consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, I have indicated to the Austrian Government that Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to consider applications for resettlement in the United Kingdom from Polish nationals presently in Austria in accordance with the following criteria:
- (a) that the Polish applicant has been recognised as a refugee in accordance with the definition contained in article 1 of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol;
- (b) that, by ties of family, education or language the United Kingdom was the most appropriate country of resettlement;
- (c) that adequate United Kingdom sponsorship can be shown;
- (d) that long-term accommodation can be found privately in the United Kingdom in advance of acceptance into Britain;
- (e) that the applicant is personally acceptable for resettlement.
We have proposed to the Austrian Government that a selection process for applicants should be established as soon as possible on the above basis. We have also told the Austrian Government that we intend to keep the issue under continual review in the light of developments.