Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1701381

registered interest
date	16/04/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the then Minister for Immigration of 17 October 2023, Official Report, column 54WH, what recent progress the Government has made on establishing a specific route to family reunion for Afghan nationals who are family members of individuals resettled to the UK under pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	22008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>For those evacuated from Afghanistan under Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) without their immediate family members, the Home Secretary has committed to establishing a route for separated families to be reunited in the first half of this year.</p><p>Further details will be provided in due course.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 19/04/2024 10:11:42 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1701382

registered interest
date	16/04/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on the number of Afghan nationals who are family members of individuals resettled to the UK under pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme who have (a) applied for and (b) been granted (i) entry clearance under refugee family reunion rules, (ii) leave outside those rules and (iii) leave to enter or remain in the UK under other immigration routes.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	22009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government continues to work with partners in the region to evacuate eligible people and are committed to bringing more Afghans to the UK in the long term. This includes eligible immediate family members of those being resettled under both the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).</p><p>Public data giving the requested breakdown of family members is not available; however, the latest published statistics, summarised at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data" target="_blank">Afghan Resettlement Programme: operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>, show that, at the end of December 2023, 10,520 have been relocated under ACRS, with 9,706 individuals resettled under Pathway 1 of this scheme so far.</p><p>For those evacuated from Afghanistan under ACRS Pathway 1 without their immediate family members, the Home Secretary has committed to establishing a route for separated families to be reunited in the first half of this year. Further details will be provided in due course.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 23/04/2024 14:19:28 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1626174

registered interest
date	09/05/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects sufficient appropriate accommodation to be available to enable the relocation to the UK of all people eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy who are in Government-funded temporary accommodation in third countries.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	184095
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2023 answer text <p>Since April 2021, we have relocated approximately 12,200 Afghans to the UK under ARAP. The last quarterly published figures show 8,565 relocated Afghans as part of ARAP and the Afghan Citizen Relocation Scheme (ACRS) have moved into a home, and a further 590 had been matched to a home and are waiting to move in. That does not include families who have made their own accommodation arrangements. The next publication of figures is due later this month.</p><p>It is vital that those arriving have somewhere suitable to stay once they are in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work at pace with Local Authorities and other partners to source suitable accommodation, in order to be able to welcome more Afghans. The security of housing will mean long-term consistency of public services, including schooling, and employment.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 17/05/2023 14:54:25 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1610405

registered interest
date	14/04/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the steps being taken to ensure that members of the Afghan Territorial Force 444 are accepted into the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	180538
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2023 answer text <p>The eligibility criteria for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme are set out clearly in Appendix ARAP to the Immigration Rules. Anyone who meets those criteria and wishes to be considered can make a free, online ARAP application at any time and from any location.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 19/04/2023 17:35:25 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1604080

registered interest
date	14/03/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of Afghan nationals who (a) meet the eligibility criteria for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, (b) meet the eligibility criteria for the Afghan citizens resettlement schemes and (c) have received an offer of resettlement under one of those schemes who (i) have not arrived in the UK and (ii) are known to have died since August 2021.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	165315
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), launched on 1 April 2021, we have relocated c.12,100 Afghans, including LE Staff, to the UK under ARAP.</p><p>The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) launched on the 6 January 2022 and will see 20,000 people from Afghanistan and the region resettled to the UK over the coming years. Around 6,500 people brought to safety in the UK during and after the evacuation are eligible for the ACRS under Pathway 1.</p><p>There is no application process for the ACRS. Prioritisation and referral for resettlement will be under one of the three Pathways.</p><p>More information on the ACRS is available via the link below: Afghan citizens resettlement scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</p><p>We estimate that the number of ARAP-eligible people that remain in Afghanistan is approximately 3,900 people (inclusive of immediate family members) out of a total of around 4,300 ARAP eligible individuals awaiting relocation, some of whom are in third countries undergoing visa checks. These figures are based on HMG records and are subject to change.</p><p>Under Pathway 3 of ACRS, the Government is considering eligible at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni located in Afghanistan and the neighbouring region for resettlement in the UK. The FCDO is in regular contact with Gardaworld and British Council. We are not aware of the death of a contractor, or a Chevening alumnus, since Pathway 3 of the ACRS opened.</p><p>We do not have access to records of deaths in Afghanistan and have not made any such assessment.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 21/03/2023 15:48:59 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1604081

registered interest
date	14/03/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including Afghan nationals who have worked for (a) the BBC and (b) other media organisations in the eligibility criteria for the next phase of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	165316
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>Under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), eligible individuals are prioritised and referred for resettlement to the UK through one of three referral pathways, which is a fair and equitable way to identify those in need.</p><p>There are no plans to expand the criteria under the existing pathways of the ACRS to include those formerly employed by the BBC or other media organisations.</p><p>In the next phase of Pathway 3 of the ACRS, we will continue to work with international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans at risk. Further detail will be set out in due course.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 21/03/2023 17:58:22 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1546171

registered interest
date	28/11/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 September 2022 to Question 53566 on Refugees: Afghanistan, how he defines suitable accommodation.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	97627
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2022 answer text <p>Bridging hotels are procured through crown commercial and contracting partners. They must be fully compliant with all government and local legislation requirements - and proof of compliance must be produced before a contract can be agreed.</p><p>The hotels must be safe, secure and individuals must be provided with meals and support. Wherever possible, accommodation should be within, or near to, major conurbations so that appropriate support and services can be more readily provided.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 01/12/2022 14:02:04 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1541352

registered interest
date	09/11/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to support Afghan nationals relocated to the UK under the ex gratia redundancy and resettlement scheme; and whether such individuals are eligible for (a) university scholarships and (b) other sources of financial support on the same basis as individuals relocated under (i) the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (ii) the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	83643
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2022 answer text <p>Through Operation Warm Welcome, Afghans who come to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be supported in accessing accommodation and the vital health, education, and support into employment they need to fully integrate into society.</p><p> </p><p>All individuals relocated to the UK under the Ex-Gratia Scheme are entitled to the same support package as those relocated through the ARAP - the scheme’s successor - including provisions under operation Warm Welcome, such as access to education and financial support.</p><p> </p><p>Our officials are working at pace to see that all eligible individuals who arrived before, during and after the evacuation are granted ILR. Having already registered over 13,000 (and counting) applications for resettlement from Afghans, with Biometric Residence Permits being issued accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst data on the number on applications to the Ex-Gratia scheme is not available in a reportable format, the recently published, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data" target="_blank">'Afghan Resettlement: Operational Data'</a> factsheet shows that, at 12 Aug 2022:</p><p> </p><ul><li>We have granted ILR to 11,303 individuals across ARAP and ACRS.</li><li>We are unable, at this time, to provide a breakdown of whether a grant of leave was made under the ARAP or ACRS.</li><li>The factsheet will be updated every quarter – with the next iteration scheduled for publication on 24 November 2022.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Government provides a safe and legal route to bring families together, through its family reunion policy. This allows a partner, or spouse, and children under 18 of refugees granted protection in the UK, to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. To support people in Afghanistan, that have family who have been granted protection in the UK, to understand their options, we have provided information on family reunion online, at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-reunion-instruction" target="_blank">Family reunion - GOV.UK</a></p><p> </p><p>Those who are not eligible for protection under our resettlement schemes or family reunion policy, will need to apply to come to the UK under our existing economic or family migration rules, which can be viewed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration</a></p><p> </p><p>To bolster the support we’ll offer to those eligible for relocation or family reunion in the UK, we intend to establish a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan as soon as the security and political situation in the country allows.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 83644 83648 question first answered 16/11/2022 17:52:34 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1541353

registered interest
date	09/11/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for leave to remain by family members of Afghan nationals relocated to the UK under the (a) ex gratia redundancy and resettlement scheme; (b) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (c) Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme have been (i) submitted and (ii) approved since August 2021.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	83644
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2022 answer text <p>Through Operation Warm Welcome, Afghans who come to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be supported in accessing accommodation and the vital health, education, and support into employment they need to fully integrate into society.</p><p> </p><p>All individuals relocated to the UK under the Ex-Gratia Scheme are entitled to the same support package as those relocated through the ARAP - the scheme’s successor - including provisions under operation Warm Welcome, such as access to education and financial support.</p><p> </p><p>Our officials are working at pace to see that all eligible individuals who arrived before, during and after the evacuation are granted ILR. Having already registered over 13,000 (and counting) applications for resettlement from Afghans, with Biometric Residence Permits being issued accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst data on the number on applications to the Ex-Gratia scheme is not available in a reportable format, the recently published, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data" target="_blank">'Afghan Resettlement: Operational Data'</a> factsheet shows that, at 12 Aug 2022:</p><p> </p><ul><li>We have granted ILR to 11,303 individuals across ARAP and ACRS.</li><li>We are unable, at this time, to provide a breakdown of whether a grant of leave was made under the ARAP or ACRS.</li><li>The factsheet will be updated every quarter – with the next iteration scheduled for publication on 24 November 2022.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Government provides a safe and legal route to bring families together, through its family reunion policy. This allows a partner, or spouse, and children under 18 of refugees granted protection in the UK, to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. To support people in Afghanistan, that have family who have been granted protection in the UK, to understand their options, we have provided information on family reunion online, at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-reunion-instruction" target="_blank">Family reunion - GOV.UK</a></p><p> </p><p>Those who are not eligible for protection under our resettlement schemes or family reunion policy, will need to apply to come to the UK under our existing economic or family migration rules, which can be viewed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration</a></p><p> </p><p>To bolster the support we’ll offer to those eligible for relocation or family reunion in the UK, we intend to establish a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan as soon as the security and political situation in the country allows.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick grouped question UIN 83643 83648 question first answered 16/11/2022 17:52:34 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1541355

registered interest
date	09/11/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy have been submitted by Afghan nationals in third countries since August 2021; and how many of those applications (a) were refused and (b) are pending.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	83645
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2022 answer text <p>We are unable to reliably provide the number of refused and pending applications under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme submitted specifically by Afghans in third countries.</p><p>It is not always possible to know the exact location of all those that apply for ARAP, as it is largely incumbent on them informing the casework team on their initial application. In addition, once an individual has been confirmed as eligible under the ARAP scheme their location data is amended throughout the process to reflect their relocation to the UK.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 16/11/2022 12:20:55 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock