§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the reception centre for Bosnian refugees at Cheylesmore lodge, North Berwick, and other reception centres; and if he will give an estimate of the numbers of refugees from Bosnia who will come to Britain during the next 12 months.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerDue to the declining number of evacuees from the former Yugoslavia in recent months, it has been decided, following discussions between the Home Office, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the voluntary agencies running the centres, that two of the present nine centres should close at the end of March 1995, and a further five, including Cheylesmore lodge, by the end of April. Of the two remaining centres, one will close at the end of June, and we will review in April the timing of the closure of the last centre against the background of developments in Bosnia.
There are approximately 370 people who have been accepted under the temporary protection programme but who have yet to arrive. The majority are still in Bosnia. UNHCR is reassessing these cases but, because of the uncertain situation within Bosnia, cannot say when, or if, they will be able to travel.