§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what replies he has received from the London Boroughs Association or its members to his appeal for London boroughs to house some of the additional 10,000 Vietnamese boat people; what approaches the Government have received for financial assistance towards these endeavours; what has been the Government's reply; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonMy right hon. Friend's approaches to local authority associations, including the London Boroughs Association, indicated that offers should be conveyed direct to the voluntary refugee organisations. I understand from the Joint Committee for Refugees from Vietnam that the London boroughs of Barnet, Bromley, Camden, Merton, Redbridge and Waltham Forest have offered long-100W term housing for Vietnamese refugees. We have also received from the London borough of Harrow a request for further guidance on resettlement accommodation. A request for financial assistance for local authorities towards resettlement costs has been received from the London Boroughs Association and other local authority associations. The Government have asked the local authority associations to submit a detailed case for this assistance which will then be carefully considered.