HC Deb 15 November 1979 vol 973 cc720-1W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has decided to end the Latin American refugee programme; if he will reconsider his decision and continue to issue visas for refugees from Latin America; and if he will maintain financial support to voluntary organisations engaged in the resettlement of these refugees.

Mr. Raison

Because the number of applications and people admitted under the programme has dwindled over the past year and other pressing demands on our capacity to absorb refugees have grown, in particular with our commitment to resettle a large number of Vietnamese refugees.

Closing the special programme in no way means that refugees from Latin America will no longer be eligible to come here. Applications will continue to be considered on the same basis as applications from refugees in other parts of the world.

Consideration is now being given to the level of financial support for the one voluntary body currently engaged in resettling Latin American refugees, the joint working group for refugees from Latin America.