Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy

Monday 20 September 2021 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Since 28 August, 7,900 applications have been made to the ARAP scheme, of which 900 appear eligible from the MOD's perspective.
  • The Minister stated they are satisfied that the right judgments are being made under the ARAP scheme.
  • The Minister offered to write to the Hon. Gentleman with exact detail regarding applications received between April and August.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Immigration
Context

Since the evacuation of Afghanistan, there have been concerns about the number of people eligible for support under ARAP. The question arises from a need to clarify eligibility numbers after applications.

Question

How many people have been assessed as being eligible for support under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy since 28 August 2021. Since 28 August, 7,900 applications have been made to the ARAP scheme, of which 900 appear eligible from the MOD's perspective. Obviously, there are Home Office checks that need to follow, and 50 applicants have thus far completed their Home Office checks and are being advised on how to proceed.

Answer from James Heappey

Since 28 August, 7,900 applications have been made to the ARAP scheme, of which 900 appear eligible from the MOD's perspective. Obviously, there are Home Office checks that need to follow, and 50 applicants have thus far completed their Home Office checks and are being advised on how to proceed.

Answered
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Q2 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Veterans
Context

Concerns persist over the number of people eligible under ARAP, especially those who worked for the Afghan Supreme Court, Government, or Armed Forces. These individuals are considered at severe risk but have been refused.

Question

How many people who clearly qualify for ARAP have been turned down since August 28th, 2021?

Answer from James Heappey

I completely accept that there will be interpretation but, having looked at a number of cases that we have been invited to review at ministerial level, I am satisfied that the right judgments are being made. Under the ARAP scheme, it is not possible for us to bring out everybody who has had a connection with UK armed forces.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The number of rejected cases was not provided, only acknowledged interpretation issues and limitations of the scheme were addressed.

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Q3 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Immigration
Context

There is confusion regarding discrepancies in the number of applications processed versus those relocated by ARAP. The question aims to clarify these numbers.

Question

How many applications were received between April and August, how many were accepted, and how many have been left behind?

Answer from James Heappey

I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the exact detail he requests. Some 15,000 people were brought out in the airlift... The discrepancy he thinks he has found relates to 311 people called forward but not able to be on a plane.

Not addressed: The specific figures requested for applications received and accepted between April and August were not directly provided, focusing instead on the airlift situation and discrepancies.

How: Will Write To The Hon. Gentleman With Exact Detail

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