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British Council Contractors in Afghanistan
11 January 2023
Lead MP
John Baron
Basildon and Billericay
Con
Responding Minister
Leo Docherty
Tags
EmploymentForeign Affairs
Word Count: 3858
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
John Baron raised concerns about british council contractors in afghanistan in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Minister is asked to confirm if around half of contractors have been given the go-ahead under ACRS and what steps are being taken to facilitate their safe exit, including urging third countries for flexibility on paperwork. The lead MP also questions why no one has been relocated in the past year and pleads for an end to any quota system that could prevent these individuals from seeking safety.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The British Council contractors who worked for the UK in Afghanistan are stranded and at risk, with around 200 individuals still remaining in high-risk categories. Despite an application window opening last summer under the Afghan Citizens' Return Scheme (ACRS), only half of applicants have received a place pending security checks by December, and the rest remain unheard from. Contractors face significant barriers such as lack of necessary ID and travel documents due to fear and displacement.
Agrees with concerns about the UK's global reputation due to failure to honour promises made to Afghan workers, emphasizing the importance of goodwill in future aid efforts.
The situation in Afghanistan is damaging the principle of asylum and harming our commitment to Afghan contractors. Failing to support these allies undermines public trust in the asylum system, leading to isolationist policies. The west's abandonment of Afghanistan allowed for geopolitical instability, affecting global energy markets.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends John Baron for his perseverance and supports the call to review the effectiveness of refugee policy. Notes that fewer than 10 staff in the FCDO are working on resettlement since last month, despite the programme being open for over a year.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Reminds the House of a previous case involving Afghan interpreters and urges for a meeting to discuss matters related to British Council contractors, referencing a Defence Committee report from 2017-2019.
Congratulates John Baron on securing the debate and agrees that British Council contractors' eligibility for ACRS highlights the need to review refugee policy urgently.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
The Select Committee on International Development found that the ARAP and ACRS schemes are too restrictive and slow, especially for NGOs like the British Council. These schemes are failing Afghan citizens who implemented UK development programmes and now need safe passage to the UK.
Government Response
Leo Docherty
Government Response
I am very grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay for his continued advocacy on behalf of British Council contractors in Afghanistan. A considerable number of principals have been processed, with almost 300 dependants notified; some 47 others have recently been contacted for resettlement processing. The UK has worked closely with third countries like Pakistan and Uzbekistan during Operation Pitting to extract these individuals safely, despite diplomatic challenges. We do not see quotas as an upper limit but rather a measuring tool, with another cohort established from June this year. Security constraints imposed by the Taliban regime remain the primary limiting factor for onward movement of contractors rather than bureaucratic or procedural hurdles.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.