The shadow questions how many Afghans remain in time-limited accommodation, when this figure is expected to reach zero, the accommodation arrangement for new arrivals, financial package details, and costs associated with the eviction process. He also asks about the status of ARAP applications, efforts to bring eligible people from Afghanistan out of harm's way, those waiting in Pakistan, and the number accessing homelessness provisions.

I thank the Minister for advance sight of the statement. Today’s statement is a continuation of a shameful saga of Government failure when it comes to the Afghans who served alongside our forces in Afghanistan. The Opposition are proud of our armed forces and of the Afghans who served alongside them, but the Minister has not addressed their wider commitment. Where is the apology from him for his policy of neglect? He should provide more detail on a number of questions including how many Afghans and their families are still in time-limited accommodation approved by the Government, expected timeline to zero this figure, how new arrivals will be placed, financial costs, ARAP application processing delays, Afghan refugees waiting in Pakistan, local authority homelessness provision, and commitments to get people out of harm's way from the Taliban.

I thank the Minister for dealing appropriately with the response from the Opposition Front Bench. During the next week I would like him, or one of his colleagues, to follow up the case that I raised with the Leader of the House last Thursday. An International Security Assistance Force commander said of that person that he, “because of his service in support of the NATO Armed Forces in the Afghan Theatre of Combat Operations…has suffered and continues suffering threats to the life and property of himself.” I know that is not for the Minister to answer today, but I make that request. I want to be approached by the right person to find out how we can solve that problem.

Discussed the issue of Afghan refugees not being resettled via official schemes and cited specific cases, such as medical students who are unable to continue their education in Afghanistan. Questioned why there is no commitment for these women to come to Scotland despite available places.

Encouraged councils and legally resettled Afghans to utilise broader mainstream support such as English language classes and unemployment support.

Asked about progress with councils and other accommodation providers to bring ARAP-approved Afghans waiting in third countries into the UK, suggesting a Homes for Ukraine-style scheme.

Praised the Minister's leadership and coordination across government departments, suggesting a visit for the Minister to meet Afghan families settled in his constituency.

Recognised the Minister's visit with him earlier, inquired about homelessness statistics at the end of the process, raised concerns about equivalency of qualifications for Afghans, and asked about recognition of their skills.

Asked about the extent of government pressure on the Afghan regime concerning girls' and women's education, mentioned importance of English language courses for integration.

I thank the Minister very much for his update and for the work that has been done; it quite clearly sounds good. I have a constituent who worked alongside an Afghani, and that outstanding case for resettlement has been turned down. This gentleman, alongside his wife and four children, is living in Afghanistan and in danger from the Taliban and others. He helped the UK forces—our forces—when we beckoned and asked for that help. Surely the operation of the scheme must allow for compassion and common sense.

I pay tribute to Hounslow Council, my local council, the Feltham convening partnership and others who have played such an important role in supporting Afghan refugees. When the Minister came to the House in March and announced that Afghans would be evicted from UK hotels, about half the 8,000 Afghans in hotel accommodation were children. Will he update the House on how many of those children are now settled in permanent housing as well as on the ongoing strategy for the continuity of their education?

Let me start by putting on record my thanks to the Immigration Minister, the right hon. Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick), who, after 18 months of begging by me and my team, was finally persuaded to help me bring five British children and their Afghan mother to safety in the UK in June. That was after the father, who had served the previous Afghan Government and worked with NATO, was brutally assassinated by the Taliban. His much younger sister has been left behind. She is an aunt to the children but grew up like their sibling because she is much younger. She is alone with no male relatives, in hiding and in fear of her life because she is a target. Given the Minister’s repeated statements about honouring commitments to those left behind, will he meet me to discuss her case so that we can bring her to safety?

On Friday I had the privilege of visiting the Refugee and Migrant Centre in Birmingham. Will the Minister join me in paying tribute to its great work in housing Afghan evacuees? The issue now is that rents have gone up quite significantly, and the centre is finding it difficult to house people.

I commend the Government on the way in which they set up the Ukraine family scheme within a week of the Russian invasion. But the parallel family reunion mechanism for Afghans resettled or called forward for evacuation under pathway 1 of ACRS is still not implemented. I have more than 450 Afghan families in my constituency who are desperate to be reunited with families. Two years on, those families still have no way of bringing their loved ones to safety.

The Minister said that he looks forward to welcoming more of those who stood up for British values at great personal risk, so I want to draw his attention to precisely one of those. My constituent is a former Chevening scholar who has been in fear of his life since 2021. He has, at last, been provisionally accepted on ACRS pathway 3.

My constituent’s brother trained and fought alongside UK forces. He escaped murder by the Taliban by fleeing across the border, injured and without papers. Can the Minister confirm how many Afghans have been relocated from third countries under pathways 2 and 3 of the resettlement scheme?