§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the treatment of refugees destined for the United Kingdom during their period of detention in Thailand.
§ Mrs. ChalkerRefugees leaving Indo-China are not detained in Thailand. Thailand responds in a humane manner by offering first asylum to Indo-Chinese fleeing their countries. These refugees are housed in camps under the auspices of the United Nations High Commmissioner for Refugees. Conditions in the camps are adequate in terms of shelter, food, health care and security. Any with a claim to resettlement in third countries, including the United Kingdom, are screened in the camps to determine whether they meet the resettlement criteria.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made about the problems of piracy faced by refugees in the South China sea.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe continue our full support for the anti-piracy programme run jointly by the Thai Government and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We have pledged a further £70,000 for the programme in 1986–87, and have also provided the services of a Royal Navy officer to report on how the efficiency of the programme can be improved.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of refugees escaping from Vietnam each month; as to how many perish at sea; and as to how many are victims of piracy.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe do not know the fate of all those who leave Vietnam by boat. However statistics show that in the first eight months of 1986 around 20,000 refugees arrived in south-east Asia by boat. Over 1,600 in the first six months of 1986 were rescued at sea. Of the refugees boats arriving in Thailand, the proportion which have suffered attacks by pirates has fallen steadily to around 20 per cent. We cannot tell how many refugees are lost at sea.
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§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial or other assistance he is prepared to give to Christian Care Projects' efforts to provide a boat in the South China sea to rescue refugees who escape by boat from Vietnam.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have received no request from Christian Care Projects for assistance. If asked, we would provide no support. Such "mercy ships", though well intentioned, exacerbate the problem, encouraging more Vietnamese to risk their lives by setting out in unseaworthy craft with no guarantee of making contact. We shall continue to support more effective responses to the problem, such as the orderly departure programme and the rescue at sea resettlement offers programme.