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Afghan Resettlement Update
28 March 2023
Lead MP
Johnny Mercer
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
ImmigrationForeign AffairsStandards & EthicsLocal Government
Other Contributors: 27
At a Glance
Johnny Mercer raised concerns about afghan resettlement update in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
It has been over 18 months since the conclusion of Operation Pitting in Afghanistan, where nearly 24,500 vulnerable people were relocated to the UK. The Minister emphasised the Government's commitment to fulfilling their strategic obligations towards these individuals and highlighted that those evacuated have fee-free indefinite leave to remain, access to health, education, employment support, and English language training. However, around 8,000 Afghans are still in hotel accommodation, which has led to a daily cost of £1 million for the UK taxpayer. The Minister announced plans to end hotel bridging accommodation by providing three months’ notice to individuals and families accommodated in Afghan bridging hotels from April onwards, with an allocation of £35 million to local authorities to facilitate their transition into long-term settled accommodation. Additionally, guidance will be published on available support and English language training will be provided to help them integrate.
John Healey
Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Question
The Shadow Minister criticised the Government's handling of Afghan relocation, questioning delays in setting up schemes and processing applications. He asked about rehousing statistics, backlog sizes, remaining applicants in Afghanistan, flights from Pakistan, data breaches, hotel usage, consultation with local authorities on permanent homes, notice procedures for evictions, decision-making processes for deadlines, and guarantees against homelessness.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the complexity of the situation but did not provide specific answers to each question. He emphasised that there is a need to move individuals from hotel accommodation to permanent homes due to financial and social implications. The Government will work closely with local authorities to ensure adequate housing support, while also addressing concerns about data security and consultation processes.
John Healey
Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Question
The MP questioned the Minister on several issues including why 8,000 Afghan families are still in temporary hotels, the backlog of cases at 66,000, and why no flights have been carrying ARAP-eligible Afghans from Pakistan since November. He also asked for information about consultations with local authorities and guarantees that none of these families will be made homeless as a result.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the challenges but emphasised the Government's commitment to relocating entitled personnel who want to come to the UK, stating there are 4,300 remaining in Afghanistan. He explained that while some Afghans have turned down home offers, it is not sustainable to keep them indefinitely in hotels. The Minister also highlighted efforts to move people out of unsuitable hotel accommodation and integrate them into communities.
Question
The MP commended the Prime Minister for allowing British Council contractors and others to continue applications from a third country, thereby helping those in fear of their lives leave Afghanistan. However, he asked about obstacles preventing some approved contractors from obtaining necessary visas and paperwork.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked the MP for his contributions and confirmed that the ACRS pathway now allows people to apply from a third country safely. He emphasised the moral duty to remove obstacles so that those stuck in Afghanistan can exit safely, aiming to support these individuals effectively.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Question
The SNP questioned whether any specific funding is coming to Scotland. They asked for details on communication with the Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, current numbers in bridging hotels, and concerns about reasonable offers of accommodation under local housing legislation.
Minister reply
Funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is devolved through the Barnett formula. Casework teams will be deployed into hotels to support Afghans moving into suitable accommodation. The minister emphasised balancing difficult priorities while ensuring no one is made homeless.
James Sunderland
Lab
Workington
Question
Asked if it was right to distinguish in law between those who come here legally and those illegally, specifically regarding the ARAP scheme.
Minister reply
The minister agreed that there is a fundamental difference. The commitment is to see through our duty to this cohort of people by getting them out of hotels and ensuring they are well integrated into UK society.
Maria Eagle
Lab
Liverpool Garston
Question
Asked about the specific provision for families in bridging hotels, particularly those with large numbers of family members. Inquired if there was any rumour of a hotel closure.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed no hotel has been given closing orders and expressed willingness to meet and discuss the situation. Flexibility is being increased to allow for improvements to create suitable accommodation.
Nickie Aiken
Con
Cities of London and Westminster
Question
Praised the welcome given by the City of London and asked about the importance of helping people move on to permanent accommodation.
Minister reply
Agreed that moving residents into permanent accommodation is important, highlighting difficulties in hotel living conditions. Emphasised commitment to harnessing community offers for employment and integration.
Jessica Morden
Lab
Newport East
Question
Critiqued the Government's record on delivering schemes for Afghan interpreters and their colleagues, noting some resorting to dangerous small boat journeys.
Minister reply
Reiterated that anyone can apply to ACRS or ARAP from third countries. No specifics were given regarding delays or alternative routes.
Vicky Ford
Con
South Suffolk
Question
Asked about tightening international sanctions and travel bans on the Taliban for the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Minister reply
Stated that dealing with Afghans in hotels is his remit, while FCDO handles issues related to international sanctions. Emphasised a professional pipeline for people to exit Afghanistan into UK.
Dan Jarvis
Lab
Barnsley North
Question
The Minister understands the bond between UK forces and Afghans, but there are concerns about ARAP and ACRS processes. Families approved under ARAP in Islamabad face accommodation issues. Can he provide more details on future arrivals and assurances that those currently in Afghanistan or Pakistan won't be disadvantaged?
Minister reply
Nobody who is in Afghanistan who is accepted by, or is eligible for, ARAP or ACRS will be disadvantaged as a result of the policy changes today. The situation with people in hotels in the UK hinders progress. The Minister urges everyone to work together to honour commitments.
Question
The Minister is passionate about this issue and an expert; does he believe his approach will be effective?
Minister reply
The policy area is complex, but the Minister is convinced that opening pathways for proper integration into UK society is the right thing to do.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
While the Minister says commitments will be honoured, the Government's actions seem hollow. She highlights a case of British children in Kabul with no safe route for their mother. When will ACRS open up?
Minister reply
The situation is difficult and ongoing efforts are being made to support Afghan nationals through third countries and other pathways.
Question
Welcoming the Minister's statement, he inquires about why wider support for social housing schemes was previously limited.
Minister reply
The current focus is on commitments to get people out of hotels and facilitate relocation. The Minister is not overly interested in revisiting past actions.
Stephen Doughty
Lab Co-op
Cardiff South and Penarth
Question
Expressing concern about the condition of Afghans living in hotels, he asks for more support to help them integrate into society.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges difficulties but emphasises that pathways are being created with increased funding to help families relocate.
Question
Welcoming the Minister's new role, he asks about plans with local government and challenges faced in securing long-term accommodation.
Minister reply
Increased funding of £7,000 per family is being provided to incentivise relocation. The Minister aims for a coordinated national effort to welcome these people into communities.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
The Minister mentioned that half of this cohort are children. Members of the all-party parliamentary group for Afghan women and girls heard this morning from their headteacher about year 11 schoolgirls being moved tomorrow, six weeks before their GCSEs. They will not be found meaningful education arrangements for another 20 weeks. He must surely agree that integration must offer meaningful opportunities for Afghan women and girls, particularly in relation to education. That may be one of the reasons that families turn down accommodation. Will he also agree that the support provided by Wales’s youth organisation, Urdd, was pioneering in integrating Afghan families into Wales? Will he agree to work with the APPG, Urdd and Afghan women’s representatives in Wales to develop a toolkit to empower Afghan women and girls as they integrate here?
Minister reply
Clearly I will work with any group as we try to recognise these responsibilities. A big part of it will be setting up casework teams in every hotel. I will be visiting all the hotels, and I invite Members to come with me as we try to meet this challenge.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham and Chislehurst
Question
My constituent’s wife is trapped in Afghanistan. She applied for a visa to come as a spouse. It took eight months to get a decision, but the application was turned down because there was a discrepancy of 33p a month in his salary with what he had put in the original application. The way the Government are treating people from Afghanistan is a disgrace. We need to ensure that people are treated fairly and that their applications are looked at. When there is a genuine application, as there is in this case, the Government should make the right decision.
Minister reply
If the hon. Member writes to me about that specific case, I am more than happy to get back to him and help him.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Question
Perfectly suitable accommodation is not easily available in Newcastle. I know that from the thousands of constituents who write to me desperately seeking it—it is the No. 1 issue. I also know it from talking to Afghan refugees, and Ukrainian refugees for that matter. What will the Minister do after 18 months to magic up this perfectly suitable accommodation, or will he seriously be making homeless those who risked their lives at our sides?
Minister reply
I have covered these points before. I have said that I do not want to make anybody homeless.
Question
I have a particular case that I know the Minister will want to help me with, and I know he is genuine in his concerns here. It relates to a gentleman who worked for the British Geographical Survey, part of which is based at Heriot-Watt University in my constituency. He spent a lot of time working to keep British people safe and to help them navigate round Afghanistan while the British Government were helping Afghanistan to explore mining opportunities to bring income to the country. Despite all his hard work, his ARAP application has been turned down and he is having to appeal it. Will the Minister speak to me about this case to see whether we can get it speeded up?
Minister reply
If the hon. and learned Member writes to me about that case, I am more than happy to come back to her.
Wendy Chamberlain
Lib Dem
North East Fife
Question
As the right hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts) said, the APPG for Afghan women and girls met this morning to specifically discuss UK resettlement. I have to tell the Minister that the feedback was not great. Nobody wants to be staying in hotel accommodation. I reiterate her offer: will he please engage with the APPG and will he please provide reassurance that in terms of that appropriate accommodation, situations such as schooling and job opportunities—those things that help integration—are being considered?
Minister reply
I am more than happy to come and address the APPG.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
Question
On 20 February, after 18 months in a bridging hotel in west London, the Nadiri family and many other Afghan refugees were relocated to Leeds and housed in another bridging hotel. Yalda Nadiri was about to take her GCSEs at William Morris Sixth Form in my constituency. Five weeks on, she still has no school place. Will the Minister see that Yalda can return to her school and take her exams? If he cannot do that, one wonders what he can do.
Minister reply
I am more than happy for the hon. Member to write to me about that case. We do not want to move people from bridging accommodation to bridging accommodation.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
I am absolutely convinced that the Minister is committed in this regard—his track record shows that. Will he put some pressure on the Home Secretary and also, disappointingly, the International Development Minister, the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), who wrote to me after a Westminster Hall debate on this very issue and said that he would not be able to help Afghan women judges whose lives are under threat from the Taliban? They are clearly eligible for phase 3 of the ACRS.
Minister reply
I make no bones about it, the ACRS pathway through has been difficult to open up.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I am grateful to the Government for their work to resettle those of our allies who are in danger. Nobody doubts that the Minister accepts that there are people who still need to be processed. Is there any way to enlarge the team so as to be able to deal with these cases more efficiently? There are families living in fear of their lives every second of every day. More needs to be done urgently to help those whose lives are on the line, due to their loyalty to democracy and those with whom they worked.
Minister reply
As I have said a number of times, and as my hon. Friend will know, one of the primary moral reasons to act is that we have not been able to continue that pipeline out of Afghanistan.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Question
In the 18 months since the UK Government capitulated to the Taliban, my constituent Hadi Sharifi has been helping Afghans who worked for or with us to escape. One is the former commander of Kabul, whose injuries at the time prevented him from leaving with UK forces. He is now across the border, but why does he still have no legal means to enter the UK? Why is this Government’s reward for his service to our forces to throw him to people smugglers, criminalise his entry to this country and then threaten to ship him to Rwanda?
Minister reply
The conditions of ARAP and ACRS compatibility are very clear. If the hon. Gentleman’s constituent has served in those roles and is entitled to the ARAP programme or the ACRS, he can now apply to those from third countries.
Hayes and Harlington
Question
I am the secretary of the National Union of Journalists parliamentary group, and we are aware from working with international bodies that at least 200 Afghan journalists have fled to Pakistan and Iran. Their visas are expiring, and some of them have been harassed by Taliban supporters. The NUJ wrote to the Home Secretary earlier this month, and we would welcome a meeting with the Minister to ensure that the scheme is now adapted to cover those vulnerable journalists more effectively.
Minister reply
That would be a pathway through the ACRS, which is precisely what it is designed to do.
Stephen Farry
SDLP
South Down
Question
There were several thousand Afghans in the asylum system even before Operation Pitting. Indeed, many of those are still awaiting decisions, including a young Hazara mother whom my office is working with, alongside her two daughters. Since then, many Afghans have come to the UK by small boats due to the failings of the ACRS. Given the situation in Afghanistan, does the Minister agree that it is surely inconceivable that the UK would deport anyone back to Afghanistan?
Minister reply
We are currently not returning anybody to Afghanistan, so if these people are eligible for the criteria on the ACRS or the ARAP programme, I encourage them to apply for that, and they can do so from a third country. We are determined to get the individuals in the UK out of hotels so we can make that pipeline work, and then it will work for those whom the hon. Member mentioned.
Shadow Comment
John Healey
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Minister criticised the Government's handling of Afghan relocation, highlighting delays in setting up schemes and processing applications. John Healey emphasised that despite the warm welcome initially offered to Afghans, the current situation with over 8,000 individuals still in hotel accommodation is unacceptable. He questioned the legitimacy of the Government’s claim about people choosing hotels when suitable homes are available, pointing out that only 258 families had refused offers. Furthermore, he demanded transparency on the backlog of cases and data breaches, urging for guarantees against homelessness for those currently in temporary accommodations.
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