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1659838

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether former members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force 333 benefit from the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy; and if not, why not.
	tabling member printed	Lord Evans of Weardale
	uin	HL10029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The ARAP scheme provides relocation or other assistance specifically to Afghan nationals who worked for or alongside UK forces in support of the UK's mission in Afghanistan, as set out in the specific eligibility criteria in the ARAP policy.</p><p> </p><p>Members of the Afghan national security forces such as Commando Force 333 &quot;whilst their efforts heroic&quot; are not automatically in scope for relocation under ARAP unless they meet these criteria.</p><p> </p><p>Those who are eligible can also apply for support in the UK under Op NEWHOPE. The Ministry of Defence works closely with third sector partners to deliver Operation NEWHOPE, which is our pastoral commitment to support the individuals who have and want to maintain their Defence connection by providing camaraderie, community support, and pathways to employment.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 25/09/2023 16:01:32 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	4348 label Biography information for Lord Evans of Weardale

1472995

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many former Locally Employed Staff have made applications for relocation or other assistance under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy; how many of these applications have (1) been processed, and (2) are waiting to be processed; what is the average length of time for an application to be processed; and how long they expect it will take to clear any backlog.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL1237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2022 answer text <p>Since January 2022 we have received approximately 3,000 ARAP applications per month. Given many of these are speculative or duplicates, we cannot provide precise data as to processed or waiting to be processed numbers.</p><p> </p><p>Application processing times can vary given the complexities of individual circumstances such as, but not limited to, their ability to respond to requests for information, their location, access to IT or employment checks.</p><p> </p><p>However, the speed of decision making in HM Government does not solely determine the speed of evacuation. Many ARAP applicants are undocumented and cannot leave Afghanistan through any official route. We are bringing them out at the speed our partners in the region will allow.</p><p> </p><p>To date, we have relocated over 9,600 eligible individuals and their dependents and we estimate that there are 8,000 (inclusive of their dependents) ARAP eligible individuals still to be relocated to the UK. This figure is subject to change as we continue to work through the outstanding applications.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 07/07/2022 16:12:32 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1312478

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy will be administered solely by UK Embassy staff or whether any provision for its delivery will be contracted out to private companies.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL15281
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy is an MOD owned policy which is jointly administered by the MOD, Home Office and FCDO. Initial contact will be with the expert in theatre team, with assistance from officials from the other Government departments named above at different stages of the process. The delivery of the scheme is supported in Kabul by the International Office Of Migration who facilitate some of the in-country activity. Currently HMG has no plans for private companies to support.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 29/04/2021 12:38:37 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1344449

	registered interest
	date	06/07/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications they have (1) received, and (2) processed, since the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy launched in April.
	tabling member printed	Lord Coaker
	uin	HL1754
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2021 answer text <p>Through the Ex-Gratia Scheme (EGS) 1,550 former staff members including their families have relocated to the UK. Under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) 96 former staff members including their families have relocated to the UK so far with several thousand more due to arrive over the summer.</p><p>Unfortunately for operational security reasons we cannot at this time comment on specific numbers of applications. However, we are significantly accelerating the pace of relocations in parallel with the military withdrawal. Our commitment to those who are eligible under the ARAP, and the process to deliver it, is not time-limited and will endure beyond the military presence in Afghanistan.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/07/2021 15:43:13 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

1684989

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of Afghanistan’s Commando Force 333 have been admitted to the UK under the various Afghan resettlement schemes (1) in 2021–22, and (2) since July 2022.
	tabling member printed	Lord Sedwill
	uin	HL1900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2024 answer text <p>In 2021, around 8,000 Afghans were relocated to the UK under Afghan resettlement schemes administered by the Ministry of Defence to the UK. Since July 2022, around 5,300 were relocated. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of individuals relocated to the UK under ARAP by job role.</p><p>Figures covering Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) applicants will need to be provided by the Home Office.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 07/02/2024 15:09:59 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
	tabling member	4886 label Biography information for Lord Sedwill

1351674

	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: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals, and (2) families, have had their applications to be relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy refused.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL2348
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2021 answer text <p>Regrettably we will not be able to evacuate all those we would hope to, and due to the pace at which we continue to receive and assess applications for relocation under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), it is not possible to quantify the number of applicants that have been rejected at this time.</p><p>Since its launch in April of this year, we have refused a proportion of applicants to the ARAP scheme on the grounds of eligibility. Additionally, a number of applicants were refused relocation under ARAP on the grounds of national security because we were unable to conduct an assessment due to inadequate information.</p><p>Thousands of vulnerable people who are not eligible for ARAP, including women, girls and minority groups, will be welcomed to the UK as the Home Office delivers what will be one of its most ambitious resettlement schemes: the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme. This is also separate from, and in addition to, the ARAP.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 02/09/2021 16:07:58 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

1351704

	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: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to widen the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy to include employees of (1) UK based NGOs, and (2) UK funded projects.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL2390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2021 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 British Nationals who remain in Afghanistan and Afghan allies who were directly employed by Her Majesty’s Government.</p><p>For those not eligible under the ARAP scheme, including employees of UK based NGOs and UK funded projects, the Home Office is working quickly to establish 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<em>.</em></p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 02/09/2021 16:05:23 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1353115

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have made available to individuals approved for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme; and when they anticipate those individuals can be relocated from Afghanistan to the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL2409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) for those who worked with the UK in Afghanistan is not time-limited and will endure. We are now looking at all possible avenues to facilitate relocation, from third countries if possible, for those eligible.</p><p>To anyone to whom we have made commitments - and who is currently in Afghanistan - we are working urgently with our friends in the region to secure safe passage. As soon as routes are available we will do everything possible to help these eligible individuals to reach safety.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 16/09/2021 13:59:41 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

1355087

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether those who apply to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy scheme receive a receipt or acknowledgment of their application; and what is the timeframe for processing applications following the completion of security checks.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	uin	HL2636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2021 answer text <p>All applicants to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) are directed to a confirmation screen on completion of the application form, with the option to print or save this as record of their submission.</p><p>In the latter stages of Op PITTING and subsequently we have received a very large number of applications, including 12,000 since the end of the operation. The time taken to process applications varies enormously, in particular based on the amount of information the applicant provides. Security checks are principally a Home Office requirement and are conducted once eligibility in principle has been established.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 17/09/2021 10:38:02 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns

1692931

	registered interest
	date	29/02/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many visas have been issued to members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Wyre Forest
	uin	HL2929
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the noble Lord to the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey), to Questions 11984 and 14769 tabled in the House of Commons by the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne and the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 14/03/2024 11:57:48 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto attachment 1 file name UIN 11984.docx title Afghanistan: Refugees
	tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest