A letter, dated 11th October 1972, from the Department of Environment recounting the impressions of Minister Eldon Griffiths after a visit to Hemswell resettlement centre. (HLG 118/2933)
Transcript
Department of the Environment
2 Marsham Street,
London SW 1P 3EB
21 October 1972
As you know, Mr Eldon Griffiths visited the Ugandan Asian Transit Camp at RAF Hemswell yesterday. Following his tour around the camp he asked me to send you a brief note outlining his general impressions of the camp, which you could show to Mr Lane.
In Mr Griffiths view Colonel Read, the Camp Commandant, has a good grip on the situation and is being very ably supported by his staff. At the moment they have 900 Ugandan Asians in the camp which is just about right. In an emergency they could take more, but this would inevitably raise the fire and health risk. The sewage, water and electricity supplies are adequate, but to avoid the possibility of the sewage system becoming blocked Colonel Read has asked for some portable lavatories to be supplied. As an added precaution, the local council have a rodding gang standing by in case of emergencies.
There is a first class reception area which is being manned by voluntary bodies (WRVS, Red Cross, and St Johns) on a shift system. The new arrivals are immediately met and given some refreshment. Basic personal details are down concerning each family and then they are given a medical check and shown to their dormitories. This particular operation seems to be running very smoothly and efficiently.
There is a residential medical officer on the camp from the local authority with whom relationships are excellent. There may be a chance in the near future for Colonel Read to obtain the services of an Asian doctor.
The Local Education Authority have provided several teachers to cater for both primary and secondary school education. The teachers (who are part-time or are retired) remain almost permanently in the camp and have been drawn from the Local Education Authorities permanent stand-by list. Although they have adapted themselves well, there may, in Mr Griffiths view, be a slight risk of over enthusiasm.
To try to resettle the Asians, the Department of Employment have set up an efficient office. They have good facilities for interviewing each Asian, and are well equipped with telephones- essential to facilitate the amount of work they are doing. So far over 370 jobs have been found, and with the wide range of skills the Asians have, it should not be too difficult to find more jobs. They are also receiving offers of temporary work, for example, potato picking.
The main problem at the moment seems to be housing. While the jobs are being found for them, accommodation, Mr Griffiths fears, is proving more difficult. Ideally the finding of a job and of accommodation should be synchronised at the camp. There will be more chance of achieving this, once they have the additional staff they require.
On the whole, the Asians seem quite happy, but they may find themselves, a little overcrowded during the winter. This will need to be watched carefully as a demand for electricity and heating is bound to increase, which will put rather a strain on the fairly old electrical wiring and boilers.
I think I should also mention the DOE Works Officers. Mr Griffiths thinks they have done an excellent job so far, especially with the very effective partitioning in the dormitories. Overall he was impressed by the way in which everybody was working well and efficiently together and responding to the leadership of Colonel Read.
I C Bennett
Private Secretary
The Private Secretary to David Lane Esq MP.