Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme

Tuesday 24 October 2023 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The FCDO has referred more than 1450 people under ACRS pathway 3 to the Home Office.
  • The UK has relocated more than 21,000 Afghans under ARAP and the ACRS.
  • The UK is working at pace with its mission in Pakistan to address the housing issue for Afghans.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP noted concerns about the resettlement of Afghan citizens under pathway 3 of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme. She referenced the urgent need for accommodation and support in third countries.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to provide rapid resettlement routes under pathway 3 of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme?

Answer from Leo Docherty

The FCDO has referred more than 1,450 people under ACRS pathway 3 to the Home Office. We are supporting more than 900 Afghans in third countries, for instance with accommodation, and we are grateful to Pakistan for the work we do together to that end. Of course, we remain committed to relocating all eligible Afghan families to the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete actions or timelines for rapid resettlement routes under pathway 3.

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Q2 Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP expressed concern about relatives of her constituents in Afghanistan who worked for the British Government and asked what support is being provided to those who helped the UK's mission.

Question

What is the Minister doing to keep the Government's promise of further support for those who helped the UK's mission in Afghanistan?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We continue our diplomatic efforts, including through supporting those Afghans in third countries. We have relocated more than 21,000 Afghans under the Afghans relocations and assistance policy—ARAP—and the ACRS, and we will continue to do that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions taken by the minister or a timeline for further support.

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Q3 John Baron Con
Immigration Housing
Context

The MP urged the government to resolve housing issues urgently for British Council contractors and their families waiting in Pakistan due to a threat from Pakistani authorities.

Question

May I urge the Government to resolve that housing issue urgently, given the Pakistani authorities' threat to return the contractors to Afghanistan next month? That would be a disaster, and we need to sort it out now.

Answer from Leo Docherty

We are acutely aware of the challenge. We are working at pace with our mission in Pakistan and we are seized of the natural justice required and the fact that we need to do our duty to those people. That is why the full pace of our institutional effort is focused on doing just that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify a timeline or concrete actions for resolving the housing issue.

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Q4 Lyn Brown Lab
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP expressed concern about the ongoing situation for Afghans who assisted UK efforts and are now living in fear of arrest or deportation.

Question

How many are still waiting and how much longer will they have to wait?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Respectfully, we have not left them in limbo. The situation is extremely difficult because of the depredations of—the tyrannical regime of the Taliban; that is why we are in this situation. We have relocated more than 21,000 people, and we continue to work at pace with our mission in Pakistan and elsewhere to ensure that these people get the support they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific numbers or a timeline for those awaiting resettlement.

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