Asked by: Lord Evans of Weardale (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many former members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force 333 have applied to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy; and how many have been rejected.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of these figures by job role or specific unit. Not all members of the Afghan Armed Forces, including specific units such as Commando Force 333, will automatically be eligible for ARAP.
Asked by: Lord Evans of Weardale (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether former members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force 333 benefit from the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The ARAP scheme provides relocation or other assistance specifically to Afghan nationals who worked for or alongside UK forces in support of the UK's mission in Afghanistan, as set out in the specific eligibility criteria in the ARAP policy.
Members of the Afghan national security forces such as Commando Force 333 "whilst their efforts heroic" are not automatically in scope for relocation under ARAP unless they meet these criteria.
Those who are eligible can also apply for support in the UK under Op NEWHOPE. The Ministry of Defence works closely with third sector partners to deliver Operation NEWHOPE, which is our pastoral commitment to support the individuals who have and want to maintain their Defence connection by providing camaraderie, community support, and pathways to employment.