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1270819

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment her Department has made of the risk to family members of people settled in the UK under the Afghan Ex Gratia scheme who remain in Afghanistan.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	129121
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2020 answer text <p>We take the safety of immediate family members of former Locally Employed Staff (LES) eligible for relocation under the Ex Gratia Sceme (EGS) very seriously. That is why spouses and dependants under 18 are eligible to relocate with the former LES member.</p><p>If family members choose to remain in Afghanistan, then they are still eligible to seek support and assistance from our Intimidation Investigation Unit in Kabul, which is open to all immediate family members of LES, whether relocated under the EGS or not.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 17/12/2020 09:26:38 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1309390

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghan (a) present and (b) former (i) interpreters (ii) other locally employed civilians have applied for resettlement to the UK and are currently awaiting a decision; whether all such applications will be fully decided before 11 September 2021; what arrangements will exist after that date to enable further applications to be made in the event that the security situation deteriorates; and if he will take immediate steps to ensure that applications to resettle in the UK made by bona fide former employees of UK armed forces receive positive responses.
	tabling member constituency	New Forest East
	tabling member printed	Dr Julian Lewis
	uin	181176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>Her Majesty's Government has so far relocated 1,358 locally employed Afghan staff and their families to the UK. A total of 532 eligible locally employed staff have applied for relocation to the UK, of which 84 are currently awaiting a decision. Of these, all but six are interpreters and all are former locally employed staff. These applications will be fully decided before 11 September 2021. I cannot comment on arrangements to enable further applications to be made after that date in the event that the security situation deteriorates, as doing so would require me to reveal the details of live operational planning. I have tasked my officials to work in concert with partners across government to explore all options to ensure that current and former locally employed staff who are eligible for relocation under the terms of the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and the Ex-Gratia Scheme are relocated.</p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 20/04/2021 14:14:01 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	54 label Biography information for Sir Julian Lewis

1353529

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests he has received as at the date of answering from hon. Members on behalf of Afghan citizens who wish to come to the UK since 15 August 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
	tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
	uin	44168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>Multiple Government departments have been contacted by MPs regarding Afghan citizens requesting relocation to the UK, which has resulted in large quantities of duplicate correspondence. Colleagues across Government have worked hard to triage these to the most appropriate points of contact, and to provide appropriate answers as swiftly as possible.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 10/09/2021 06:51:32 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1350914

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the evacuation of Afghans and their families who helped UK and allied forces; and if he will make a statement to the House on that matter.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	40648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government continues to be strongly committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to current and former locally employed staff in Afghanistan. We have worked round the clock over the past few weeks to airlift people out of Afghanistan. This has been the largest UK military evacuation since the Second World War consisting of UK nationals, Afghans who have worked for us, others who we have identified as especially vulnerable because of their ties to the UK and third country nationals.</p><p>Our Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy (ARAP) is one of the most generous in the world. Our commitment to those who are eligible under the ARAP, and the process to deliver it, is not time-limited and will endure.</p><p>Following on from the departure of UK Forces from Afghanistan, we are working with international partners on establishing potential routes for those eligible for ARAP to get to the UK, and will continue to do all we can to support British Nationals and those Afghans who have supported us, putting pressure on the Taliban to allow safe passage.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 09/09/2021 14:54:20 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

418292

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the relocation to the UK of interpreters who have worked for the British Army in Afghanistan.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	9840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2015 answer text <p>Her Majesty's Government has two policies under which locally employed civilians may be relocated to the UK.</p><p>Our Ex-Gratia redundancy scheme offers relocation to the UK to some 500 current and former local staff made redundant as a result of the drawdown of forces announced on 19 December 2012.</p><p>Our Intimidation Policy assists all current and former local staff members regardless of dates or length of employment, whose safety has been threatened because of their work with us. Staff may also be relocated either locally or to the UK, should this be required to ensure their safety in the face of employment-related intimidation. Thirty staff have been relocated locally under this policy and one person has been relocated to the UK.</p><p>These policies are kept under review to ensure their effectiveness.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 15/09/2015 16:24:04 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

418293

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many interpreters who have worked for the British Army in Afghanistan have been relocated to the UK in each of the last six months.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	9841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2015 answer text <p>Over the last six months we relocated the following numbers of Locally Employed Staff (LES) including former interpreters and their immediate families.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>LES</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Immediate Family</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>42</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>44</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May</p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>50</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>48</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>51</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>119</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>126</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>245</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Visas have been issued for a further 32 LES and 65 family members who we expect to be relocated shortly. Visa applications for the relocation of 80 LES and 160 family members are being processed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 15/09/2015 15:02:52 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

1352634

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any special housing arrangements will be made for the family of Afghans currently studying at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to ensure that family members are not separated when they are relocated to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	41647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2021 answer text <p>Work is underway across the whole of Government to ensure the Afghans who stood side by side with us in conflict, their families and those at highest risk who have been evacuated, are supported as they now rebuild their lives in the UK. This includes Afghans who are currently studying on professional military training courses in the UK. Defence is working with partners across Government to re-house those evacuated in the best way possible, which in some case includes a number of vacant homes which are normally used by Service families.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 08/09/2021 16:52:28 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

418878

	registered interest
	date	15/09/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghan interpreters who have worked with the armed forces have had their application for relocation to the UK rejected in the last year.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10272
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2015 answer text <p>Under the Ex Gratia Redundancy Scheme over 400 former locally employed staff have been offered the opportunity to apply for relocation to the UK. No applications have been refused under this scheme to date and over 170 of these local staff, along with their immediate families, have been successfully relocated to the UK so far. In addition to the redundancy scheme we have our Intimidation Policy, where staff can contact a dedicated team based in Kabul for support if they are being intimidated because of their work with British Forces. Under this scheme individuals do not apply for relocation to the UK; they provide us with information about their case which is then investigated thoroughly. Appropriate mitigation measures are provided to the local staff member, which can include bespoke security advice, relocation within Afghanistan, and in certain cases, relocation to the UK.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 22/09/2015 15:17:14 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1351495

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will expand the Afghan Interpreters Scheme to people engaged in UK-linked initiatives and human rights activists at risk of being targeted by the Taliban.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	41334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government is strongly committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to current and former locally employed staff in Afghanistan. The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme is not time-limited and will endure, remaining open indefinitely to Afghan allies who were directly employed by Her Majesty's Government.</p><p>For those not eligible under the ARAP scheme, including human rights activists and employees of UK-linked initiatives, the Home Office is establishing the details of the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). This scheme will provide protection for those identified as most at risk, such as women and girls. The Government has committed to take around 5,000 refugees in the first year and up to 20,000 over the coming years, making this one of the most comprehensive resettlement schemes the UK has ever established.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 06/09/2021 14:19:19 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1110124

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Immigration
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many former Afghan interpreters to the UK Armed Forces in Afghanistan have been relocated to the UK under the Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia Scheme.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL15092
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>As of 12 April 2019, 438 former Afghan Locally Employed Staff have been relocated to the UK. This figure includes former FCO and DFID staff and a small number who, although not interpreters, were deemed to have served outside the wire on the front line for 12 consecutive months and were made redundant, and were therefore eligible for relocation.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 23/04/2019 15:41:40 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins