HC Deb 22 April 1993 vol 223 cc180-1W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Bosnian refugees are being cared for by the Scottish Refugee Council in North Berwick; when they arrived there; what funding arrangement has been made by his Department to provide for these people and to pay the staff at the temporary hostel; for what reasons no money has yet been paid; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Nine ex-detainees from the camps in Bosnia and their families—a total of 27 people—are being cared for by the Scottish Refugee Council in a reception centre in North Berwick. They are part of a group who arrived on 31 March under the Government-sponsored scheme to bring to the United Kingdom up to 1000 ex-detainees and their families. The Scottish Refugee Council is being funded by the Home Office to run the reception centre. The council was notified on 6 April that an interim payment of £75,000 would be made pending the outcome of discussions on the budgets. A payable order was dispatched on 16 April. As this had not arrived by 20 April, and in view of the financial difficulties being faced by the Scottish Refugee Council, arrangements have been made for the money to be paid directly into the council's bank account in North Berwick.