Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy 2022-07-18
2022-07-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from discussions on the effectiveness of the Afghan relocations and assistance programme.
What discussions have been had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of the Afghan relocations and assistance policy? This scheme has seen over 100,000 applications. The challenge is identifying individual applicants due to sharing of staff numbers and names among those who worked in Helmand.
Discussions have involved engaging NGOs to help identify the 2,000 principals who actually worked for us, to bring them out as quickly as possible. The challenge is finding these individuals among tens of thousands of applications where staff numbers are being shared.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about discussions with Cabinet colleagues, but the answer focused on identifying applicants rather than discussing effectiveness or inter-Cabinet communications.
Changing Subject To Identification Challenges
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Ministers confirmed last month that around 8,000 Afghans and their families are still eligible for relocation under the ARAP scheme.
What specifically are Ministers doing to identify those people who worked with UK forces in Afghanistan, establish pathways for them to come here, and process applications as quickly as possible?
We are asking NGOs with networks in-country to help find the 2,000 principals left who worked with us. We have the capacity and routes to bring them out but face challenges due to duplicate applications and gaming of the system.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for specifics on identification and processing pathways, but the answer focused more on challenges than concrete measures.
Changing Subject To Challenges
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The MOD's Afghan relocation team is working on identifying and processing applications including friends and relatives of Carshalton and Wallington residents.
How many individuals have made it to the UK under the ARAP scheme since Operation Pitting concluded?
A total of 9,962 people have come out under ARAP since Operation Pitting concluded, including 2,984 after Op Pitting ended.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The anniversary of Operation Pitting is approaching, with many Afghan citizens still awaiting relocation or family reunions.
What will the Minister do to speed up this process so that promises made can be honoured in time for the one-year anniversary?
ARAP is a tightly bound scheme, not like resettlement mechanisms where each case might be judged individually. We are working fast with NGOs to find and bring out those on our list who worked with UK forces.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for specific actions but the answer focused more on limitations of ARAP and challenges in identification.
Changing Subject To System Limitations
Response accuracy