HC Deb 25 January 1980 vol 977 c401W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has had objecting to the closure of the special programme for Latin American refugees and from whom.

Mr. Raison

376, of which 132 were from hon. Members and their constituents and the remainder from members of the public, including trades councils and local Latin American refugees support groups.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received from people in Latin American countries asking for permission to enter the United Kingdom as refugees since his announcement of the closure of the special programme for refugees from Latin America; how many of these have been admitted; and how many are still under consideration.

Mr. Raison

None.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce his decision about the level of financial support for the joint working group for refugees from Latin America.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a statement on the future of grant aid to the joint working group of refugees from Latin America.

Mr. Raison

The joint working group has been informed that the total Home Office grant for 1979–80 will be £126,000 and that, in view of the termination of the special programme for refugees from Latin America, any future grant in respect of its remaining activities will be phased out as soon as possible in 1980–81. A decision on the amount of the group's 1980–81 grant will be reached very shortly.