HC Deb 08 June 1982 vol 25 cc20-1W
Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the remaining number of refugees from South-East Asia who are likely to enter the United Kingdom for permanent residence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Raison

Of the refugees from South-East Asia now in the United Kingdom, 11,500 have come from refugee camps in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand, 1,700 have come for family reunion and some 3,000 after being rescued on the high seas by ships registered in the United Kingdom.

The 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees requires countries to make every effort to maintain family unity and applications to enter the United Kingdom from the spouse and minor children of refugees already here are sympathetically considered. Entry clearances for a further 2,600 Vietnamese have been authorised for family reunion but it is not known when—or to what extent—the Vietnamese authorities will issue the necessary exit permits. One thousand applications are currently under consideration. It is not possible to estimate how many further applications may be lodged or how many people may eventually qualify to come here for family reunion.

The entry to the United Kingdom of refugees rescued at sea by British registered ships is considered on a case-by-case basis. Five hundred came here in 1980 and 350 in 1981. No refugees have been rescued so far in 1982.