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1721246

registered interest
date	17/07/2024
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 whether they plan to amend the eligibility criteria for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme to allow visas for the UK to be issued to those who were employed indirectly as well as directly to work for UK government departments or armed forces.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL26
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/08/2024 answer text <p>The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme already provides resettlement routes within the existing criteria for those formerly employed, directly or indirectly, by the UK Government. There are no current plans to widen the eligibility criteria.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme’s full eligibility criteria can be found via the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy-information-and-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy-information-and-guidance</a></p><p> </p><p>The new team of Ministers have made ARAP an early priority for the Department, to tackle problems which have been faced with processing ARAP applications and ensure the scheme delivers on our commitments to those brave Afghans who worked in support of UK objectives in Afghanistan.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Coaker question first answered 15/08/2024 13:21:28 answering member 360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker attachment 1 file name Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.pdf title Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

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

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

1674239

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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 what is their estimate of the number of Afghans eligible to come to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy who are currently (1) still in Afghanistan, or (2) in Pakistan.
tabling member printed	Baroness Smith of Newnham
uin	HL729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2023 answer text <p>As of 30 November 2023, there are around 2,991 confirmed ARAP Eligible Principals (EPs) and their family members in Afghanistan, and 2,047 in Pakistan.</p><p>These figures fluctuate as we continue to identify eligible individuals. We are committed to support the relocation of eligible Afghans and their families out of Afghanistan and Pakistan as quickly as possible. To date we have brought approximately 13,600 to safety in the UK under the ARAP scheme.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 13/12/2023 16:52:02 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	4323 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Newnham

1674241

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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 how many Afghans and their families have come to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy in the last two months, and how many they expect to arrive before 31 December.
tabling member printed	Baroness Smith of Newnham
uin	HL731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2023 answer text <p>Over 1,500 ARAP Eligible Principals (EPs) and their family members have been relocated in the past two months. Many factors govern the flow of relocation, but we are endeavouring to bring as many eligible Afghans as possible to the UK, as quickly as possible.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 13/12/2023 13:22:17 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	4323 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Newnham

1674243

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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 what assessment they have made of the role played by the Afghan Territorial Force (ATF) 444 in supporting UK Forces, and whether ATF personnel should be eligible to come to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
tabling member printed	Baroness Smith of Newnham
uin	HL733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2023 answer text <p>I refer the noble Lady to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey), in the House of Commons on 30 November to the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Ms Alison Thewliss) in response to Question 3862.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 13/12/2023 13:22:46 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto attachment 1 file name UIN 3862.docx title Afghanistan: Refugees
tabling member	4323 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Newnham

1672984

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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 how many members of the Afghan Territorial Force 444 and Commando Force 333 have (1) qualified for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, and (2) been told they are ineligible under that policy.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>As of 28 November, we have relocated 13,300 ARAP Eligible Principals (EPs) and their family members to safety in the UK under the ARAP scheme and have approximately 6,000 eligible persons and family members remaining to relocate to the UK. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of these figures by job role or specific unit.</p><p> </p><p>Not all former members of the Afghan Armed Forces, including specific units such as Afghan Territorial Force 444 and Commando Force 333, will automatically be eligible for ARAP. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis on its own merits and in line with published policy. We are prioritising finding remaining eligible applicants and relocating them as quickly as we can.</p><p> </p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 11/12/2023 14:50:10 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1672985

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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 they will reassess unsuccessful applications for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy from individual members of the Afghan Territorial Force 444 and Commando Force 333 in the light of continued evidence of vulnerability to violent reprisals from the Taliban against them and their families.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL591
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>All unsuccessful ARAP applicants, including those made by former members of the Afghan Armed Forces such as Afghan Territorial Force 444 and Commando Force 333, have the right to request a review within 90 days of receipt of their outcome letter.</p><p>We continue to prioritise finding remaining eligible applicants and relocating them as quickly as we can. As of 28 November 2023, we have relocated 13,300 individuals and family members since the scheme began.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 11/12/2023 17:52:01 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

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