Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Immigration: British Armed Forces Interpreters

Monday 7 June 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government launched the Afghan relocations and assistance policy in April.
  • The policy offers priority relocation to any current or former staff members in Afghanistan who are at risk.
  • David Davis praised the Government for implementing the policy one week after his question.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Immigration Veterans
Context

No specific background event is mentioned, but the question focuses on ensuring interpreters are included in immigration reform efforts.

Question

What steps she is taking to ensure that interpreters who assisted British armed forces overseas will be included as part of reforms to the immigration system.

Answer from Priti Patel

The Government owe an immense debt of gratitude to the brave interpreters who worked alongside our armed forces overseas. In April we launched the Afghan relocations and assistance policy, under which any current or former staff members in Afghanistan who are at risk are offered priority relocation to the United Kingdom, regardless of their employment status, rank, role, or length of service.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps for including interpreters in immigration reforms were not detailed. The answer focused on a specific policy but did not directly address all aspects of the question.

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Q2 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Immigration Defence
Context

The question follows an initial policy change that extended relocation offers to all at-risk staff members in Afghanistan. It seeks clarification on whether sub-contracted interpreters are also eligible.

Question

It is a real pleasure to submit a question asking for a change in policy, and for that to happen one week later, so I congratulate the Government, and particularly the Home Secretary, on this long overdue change of heart. It is right that we accelerate the relocation scheme for Afghan interpreters and their families—people who have protected us and our country so well for so long. In view of worrying reports in the press last week, will my right hon. Friend clarify that not only Afghan interpreters directly employed by the Ministry of Defence but sub-contracted interpreters will share the right to those Afghan relocations?

Answer from Priti Patel

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and the entire House should pay tribute to those who worked alongside our armed forces in Afghanistan, in harrowing conditions. The Defence Secretary and I were determined to ensure that this policy went through. In light of what is taking place in Afghanistan now, with further withdrawal and drawdown, it is right that we reach out to those who, as my right hon. Friend said, are part of that wider support network and have worked with our armed forces.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific eligibility criteria for sub-contracted interpreters were not explicitly confirmed. The answer highlighted the importance of supporting all at-risk individuals but did not provide a clear commitment regarding sub-contracted interpreters' eligibility.

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