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Afghan Resettlement Update
18 July 2023
Lead MP
Johnny Mercer
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Asylum & RefugeesForeign AffairsLocal Government
Other Contributors: 23
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
In March, Johnny Mercer updated the House on Afghan resettlement and relocation. To date, approximately 24,600 individuals have been relocated to safety in the UK, including British nationals and their families, loyal Afghans who served the United Kingdom, and others at risk. All those relocated through safe and legal routes receive health, education, employment support, English language training if needed, immediate right to work, and access to benefits. The minister expressed concern over 8,000 Afghans living in temporary bridging accommodation for more than a year and announced the issuance of legal notices and communications to quit their accommodations by August with clear guidance on available support. Funding of £285 million has been provided for local authorities to assist individuals in finding settled housing, including over £7,000 per Afghan individual. The minister encouraged local authorities to share best practices and landlords to offer accommodation through the online Afghanistan housing portal. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to ending access to costly hotels by notice period expiry with exceptions for short-term needs or medical reasons.
Luke Pollard
Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Question
The shadow criticised the minister's statement for lacking precise numbers, dates, and details. He questioned how many Afghans are currently in bridging accommodation, who will be placed under time-limited contingency offers, and asked for specific dates when notices expire.
Minister reply
The minister did not provide exact dates or detailed figures but reiterated the commitment to ending costly hotel stays by notice expiry with exceptions for short-term needs or medical reasons. He urged Afghans and local authorities to access available support before expiration.
Luke Pollard
Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Question
The Minister has not provided precise numbers of Afghans in bridging accommodation, those expected to stay under the contingency offer, or estimates. He is a human shield deflecting failures from other departments. The statement confirms Government failure to support Afghan nationals who served alongside British forces.
Minister reply
Mercer thanks Pollard for his remarks but denies being a human shield and praises previous efforts by the Government to resettle people. Since 2015, half a million people have been resettled via safe routes. Around 350 local authorities are engaged; around 10,500 supported into settled accommodation as of May 25th data. £35m funding was provided for Afghan households to move from hotels into settled accommodation.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Will no Afghans be made homeless during the process? Also, does he agree with remarks by his colleague on Afghanistan being peaceful and stable?
Minister reply
No Afghan family should present as homeless at the end of this process given what is offered. On stability in Afghanistan, Mercer clarifies that the fall to Taliban was a tragedy; it represents threats to human rights and treatment of women.
Martin Docherty
SNP
Glasgow North East
Question
While Minister speaks warm words with good intentions, he avoids facts like only 54 have applied through the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme. He questions whether a ‘Homes for Afghans’ scheme similar to ‘Homes for Ukraine’ is needed.
Minister reply
Mercer thanks Docherty and says responsibility lies in getting Afghans in bridging accommodation into permanent accommodation, not ARAP pathway which remains with the Ministry of Defence. More than 54 recipients are under ACRS; he will write back to Docherty on details.
Question
Homes for Afghans. Does the Minister have a similar proposal as was given to Ukrainians, considering that Afghan refugees are less likely to return home?
Minister reply
Yes, we are looking at housing options for Afghan refugees, including setting up an Afghan housing portal where landlords can offer their properties. However, it is important to note that the situation with Afghans is fundamentally different from Ukrainians because many Afghans do not intend to return home.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
Question
The Minister's focus was on central Government and local government actions, but what scrutiny has been given to third sector organisations such as the community sponsorship scheme and vulnerable persons resettlement scheme?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is correct; we need to harness third sector provision along with Government agencies. Local Home Office liaison teams work closely with charities in hotels housing Afghan refugees, and I urge more charities to get involved.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
What can the Government do to help an 18-year-old constituent who is looking after her brother and sister separated from their parents for two years due to Operation Pitting, in terms of family reunification efforts?
Minister reply
We are committed to reuniting families where appropriate. If the right hon. Gentleman writes to me about this specific case, I will look into it. Successful integration is key to enabling these families to live fulfilling lives in the UK.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
How many of the resettled individuals are translators and have a good command of English, and what measures are in place for those who do not?
Minister reply
ESOL courses are available to every person coming from Operation Pitting. While some individuals have worked hard on integration and language skills, others have not made as much progress. We have clear measures built into the funding package to support English learning.
Wendy Chamberlain
Lib Dem
North East Fife
Question
What additional support is being given by multidisciplinary teams to family units in accommodation headed by women, especially regarding medical requirements and elder/childcare responsibilities?
Minister reply
Each individual Afghan is entitled to £7,100 additional funding as they move into local authorities. We will do everything we can to support female-led families where we see them.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Question
How does the Minister respond to a fellow Defence Committee member's video praising the Taliban, while ignoring their mistreatment of women and killing of Afghan citizens who helped British forces?
Minister reply
Members must be careful when speaking for themselves or representing others. The Government position remains unchanged: we fought for freedom and peace in Afghanistan, which is now lacking under Taliban rule.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
What plans are there to fill the post of Minister for Refugees, and does the enactment of the Illegal Migration Bill mean that Afghans coming across in small boats will face detention and removal to third countries?
Minister reply
The ARAP pathway is still open for Afghans, and illegal routes should not be taken. The Illegal Migration Bill was passed last night; we need to ensure proper integration of those who served with British forces.
Vicky Ford
Con
Chelmsford
Question
Thanked the Minister for visiting Chelmsford and meeting Afghan families at the Atlantic hotel, noting that staying in hotels indefinitely does not provide stability or security. Suggested that the generous offer of £7,100 per person is insufficient to find rental accommodation in Chelmsford but sufficient elsewhere. Asked if this amount can be transferred with the family should they choose to rent elsewhere.
Minister reply
Acknowledged a disparity in local authority application of the policy across different regions and stated that in some areas, it has been extremely successful. Confirmed that the £7,100 per Afghan moves with them if they decide to relocate to another area for accommodation.
Joanna Cherry
SNP
Edinburgh South
Question
Expressed concern over women judges and prosecutors in Afghanistan who are now living in fear of their lives. Mentioned previous meetings where support was shown but no progress has been made on delivering a humanitarian visa for these women.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the hon. Member’s concerns about Afghan women facing severe dangers and agreed to take them away to assist with putting pressure on the Home Office to deliver a humanitarian visa.
Jack Lopresti
Con
Filton and Bradley Stoke
Question
Asked what steps are being taken to ensure that those requiring medical treatment due to acute conditions can avoid homelessness when hotel access ceases.
Minister reply
Noted disparities in local authority application of the policy. Pledged contingencies for individuals receiving specialist healthcare at hospitals near their current housing but emphasised that most should move out of hotels as there is no clear reason they cannot.
Stephen Doughty
Lab/Co-op
Cardiff South and Penarth
Question
Thanked the Minister for visiting his constituency to meet Afghans and local officials. Highlighted disparity in engagement and delivery across UK regions, implying some people will need contingency accommodation.
Minister reply
Praised the hon. Member’s engagement and commitment in assisting Afghan rehousing efforts but stated that no one should be homeless at process end. Confirmed decisions are yet to be made regarding specific contours of contingency accommodation.
Stephen Farry
Alliance
East Antrim
Question
Recognised concerns about the Minister’s announcement while noting many Afghans remain in UK asylum system for over two years. Asked if representations can be made to Home Office regarding those who served alongside British forces.
Minister reply
Noted applications under ARAP scheme can be made from third countries at any stage and expressed confidence that the Home Office would have heard remarks.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Question
Critiqued Minister’s statement as making it seem easy for refugees to find accommodation with three months’ notice after languishing in hotels. Asked if any Afghan who served alongside British troops will be made homeless.
Minister reply
Acknowledged that he would look into the hon. Member’s requests and meet her at her earliest convenience. Emphasised complexity of project, praised frontline efforts by Home Office liaison officers, and encouraged further engagement with central government.
Question
This is a difficult process, so it is inevitable that there will be significant numbers of Afghans who struggle to find accommodation in time. How will they be supported to make homelessness applications or to present as homeless? Will there be somebody physically evicting people from hotels when the time comes, and if so, who, and what will then happen to the Afghans and their belongings?
Minister reply
Central Government will stop paying for these hotels when the eviction notice runs out. There will then be extra homelessness funding for those who wish to present as homeless. There is £7,100 per family to help local authorities look after them and get them out of hotels or homeless accommodation and into the private rented sector.
Samantha Dixon
Lab
Chester North and Neston
Question
The Minister’s officials recently visited my constituency, and they will be aware that there are grave concerns regarding the wellbeing and emotional welfare of the families involved. What additional support are the Government putting in place to help with needs that are not simply accommodation-related? Furthermore, it has been suggested that some of the same hotels will be stood up as contingency accommodation for asylum seekers. Can the Minister respond? Is that the case?
Minister reply
I am not in the Home Office, so I do not know which hotels will be stood up as contingency options for asylum seekers. There is some really good practice going on in Chester, but there are also some extremely difficult situations.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I think the Minister for his statement. Five days ago, the Government published their 2022 “Human Rights and Democracy” report, in which they refer to pathway 3 and the commitment that was given. It is nearly two years since the fall of Kabul and 18 months since the opening of pathway 3. In that time, few applicants have arrived in the UK. Many Members of this House, including the Minister, fought hard for the establishment of the pathway, which was originally intended to support vulnerable groups, including ethnic and religious minorities. It was promised that 20,000 people would be resettled in the UK under the scheme, yet it appears that the number brought to the UK so far is minimal, and applications have not opened for the original groups. Given the findings of the Hazara inquiry, detailing the escalating atrocity crimes and warning of a possible genocide, why has the scheme been so slow to open and process people?
Minister reply
The ACRS and ARAP processes do not lie with the piece of work we are discussing today, but I am more than happy to take those points away. In context, this has been an extremely generous scheme.
Question
Just last week, a constituent of mine who is a British citizen of Afghan descent was told that after waiting years for a resolution to his family’s case due to absurd delays at the Home Office, his five young children and wife would all be prevented from entering the UK. He was told that the documents he held were insufficient, despite having provided DNA evidence to the Home Office. The reason his required documents were not in the form they should have been in is that they were damaged in a devastating bomb blast at Kabul airport—something that my parliamentary staff can attest to because they were on the phone at the time of the bomb blast happening and have dealt with this case from that awful day. My question to the Minister is quite simple: what is my constituent able to do about that situation? How can he work with our Government to rightfully bring his family to this country without delay?
Minister reply
If that individual is eligible under ARAP or ACRS and is approved, the hon. Gentleman should write to me about the case, and I will look into it.
Question
I thank the Minister for his statement. The British Red Cross is delivering information sessions to Afghan refugees on life in the UK, digital safety, and protection and women’s healthcare. What steps are Ministers taking to ensure that they, too, provide Afghan refugees with the tools they require for successful assimilation in the UK?
Minister reply
There has been a huge amount of work to make sure that Afghans have absolutely everything at their disposal in order to integrate into the United Kingdom, including funding that is flexible enough to, for example, knock through houses that are built together but not sized for the bigger families that we see in this cohort; English courses and training; replicating the qualifications they had in Afghanistan; and trying to get them into the NHS.
Shadow Comment
Luke Pollard
Shadow Comment
Luke Pollard criticised the minister's statement as lacking precise numbers, details, and commitment. He questioned the failure of ARAP applications processing and the current backlog of 60,000 cases. The shadow expressed concerns over 8,000 Afghans being evicted from temporary accommodation by summer end without proper alternatives. Pollard demanded clarity on exact dates and data regarding rehousing into settled housing in the UK, the number of homes available, and those expected to be homeless due to eviction notices. He highlighted failures across Government departments and urged fixing the ARAP scheme’s issues, processing delays, and data breaches. The shadow called for constituency-specific data on evictions and promised support through the Afghan housing portal.
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