HC Deb 25 July 1979 vol 971 cc249-50W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure that the Vietnamese refugees are settled in those areas which are most enthusiastic in their welcome and which are best able to afford the resources necessary.

Mr. Raison

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 25 June.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he has taken or intends to take to ensure that the settling of the thousands of Vietnam boat refugees is done in such a manner as to ensure that these are dispersed over the whole United Kingdom, and not concentrated in areas already having difficulties affecting their employment, housing, health and welfare services due to large numbers of immigrants;

(2) whether he will use whatever action may be available to him to settle Vietnam boat refugees in areas such as Bournemouth, Boscombe and Bath, which do not have the problems in housing, health, employment and welfare services now confronting boroughs which already have large numbers of immigrants.

Mr. Raison

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 25 June.