Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Relocation from Afghanistan

Monday 10 January 2022 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • More than 2,000 people have come to the UK since the end of Operation Pitting.
  • The Department continues to work with partners in the region, including Pakistan and other regional capitals, to facilitate more routes for relocation.
  • Indefinite leave to remain is an automatic part of the ARAP scheme for those brought out during and after Operation Pitting.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The question arises in the context of ongoing efforts to relocate individuals from Afghanistan, involving cooperation with third countries like Pakistan.

Question

What steps is his Department taking to support the relocation of (a) vulnerable Afghans and (b) British nationals from Afghanistan? Clearly mentioning that over 2,000 people have come to the UK since the end of Operation Pitting, and more routes are being facilitated through cooperation with partners in the region.

Answer from James Heappey

More than 2,000 people have come to the UK since the end of Operation Pitting. The Department continues to work with partners in the region to facilitate more routes for relocation. This includes cooperation with Pakistan and other regional capitals.

Answered
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Q2 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

Concerns about the potential deportation of Afghans with UK visas from Pakistan back to Afghanistan due to unhealthy ties between parts of the Pakistani state and the Afghan Taliban.

Question

Given the unhealthy closeness of ties between parts of the Pakistani state and the Afghan Taliban, what assurances and assistance will be given to Afghans in hiding in Pakistan who may have been issued with UK visas that they will not be deported back to Afghanistan by the Pakistani authorities when presenting themselves at an airport?

Answer from James Heappey

Individuals arriving in Pakistan with correct paperwork are facilitated by the British high commission. However, a challenge remains for those without papers, which is discussed with Islamabad and other regional capitals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assurances and assistance not provided.

How: Flirting With Operational Detail

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Q3 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Immigration
Context

Inquiry into the status of ARAP families relocated to the UK, focusing on the number granted indefinite leave to remain.

Question

How many ARAP families now in the United Kingdom have been granted indefinite leave to remain?

Answer from James Heappey

Indefinite leave to remain is an automatic part of the ARAP scheme. More than 5,000 ARAP-eligible personnel were brought out during Operation Pitting, and around 1,100 of the 2,000 who have come since are also ARAPers. About another 150 or so from the original cohort remain in Afghanistan, with ongoing efforts to bring them out.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Number of families specifically not provided.

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