Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Afghan nationals with UK visas who served (a) as interpreters and (b) in other locally employed staff roles are in Afghanistan as of 8 November 2021; and what steps her Department is taking to facilitate the return of those people to the UK.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
It remains a top priority to help those British nationals and those Afghans eligible to come to the UK, to leave Afghanistan. We have created a new Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit, staffed jointly by officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, which is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle individuals and those family members confirmed to be eligible under ARAP or who were notified by the UK government that they had been called forward or specifically authorised for evacuation, but were not able to board flights in line with the published policy statement. We have also made very clear that if the Taliban want international acceptance, they must ensure safe passage for those entitled to go to another country.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what humanitarian support his Department is providing to Afghanistan.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We stand with the people of Afghanistan to support a more stable, peaceful future for the country. Following our announcement of 18 August, total UK aid to Afghanistan this year is now £286 million, one of our largest bilateral programmes As part of this, on 3 September we announced £30 million of life-saving aid to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries to help those who choose to leave Afghanistan as part of the Government’s efforts to support regional stability. £10 million will be made available immediately to humanitarian partners, such as the UNHCR, to enable essential supplies such as shelters to be despatched to the Afghan borders as well as setting up sanitation and hygiene facilities. A further £20 million will be allocated to countries that experience a significant increase in refugees to support reception and registration facilities and provide essential services and supplies.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to improve the protection of children’s rights in Afghanistan.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK has provided £3.3 billion of aid funding since 2002 which has helped improve the rights of all Afghans, including women, children and minority groups. There are now 8.2 million more children in school than in 2001. Youth literacy rates have increased to 65% in 2018 from 47% in 2011. In 2001, most girls were unable to go to school but there are now 3.6 million girls in school. Over the last year, we have engaged with partners on the development and roll out of the national school safety framework to ensure that children can access a safe learning environment. Over the last eight years, the UK has helped over a quarter of a million girls attend school through the Girls' Education Challenge Fund.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support for UK citizens in countries where red, amber or green ratings for covid-19 have changed during their stay.
Answered by Nigel Adams
British nationals should not travel to red list countries or territories. Those already overseas should follow the public health advice of the country which they are in, including current COVID-19 restrictions. Those wishing to return to the UK can use commercial travel options to do so. The Government has announced that, as part of a limited trial, from 8 June direct flights are permitted to England from red list countries that were previously subject to flight bans, so long as they arrive at dedicated terminals at Heathrow and Birmingham. Those returning should check current COVID-19 related restrictions on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control), noting that individuals returning from red listed countries must enter managed quarantine in a hotel. British nationals requiring assistance should contact their nearest embassy, consulate or high commission. Our consular staff endeavour to give appropriate and tailored support to British nationals overseas and their families in the UK, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. This support includes providing assistance to return to the UK where it is appropriate. The assistance the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide to British nationals abroad is set out in the publication: Support for British nationals abroad: A Guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide).
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assistance his Department is providing to Pakistan using the Counter Terrorism Programme Fund; and if he will publish details of that assistance.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Counter-terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative (CAPRI) programme ran in Pakistan from 2013 to 2020, working to improve the capability of the police and criminal justice sector in Punjab. We remain committed to working together with the Government of Pakistan to combat the terrorist threat and the extremism that sustains it, in a human rights compliant manner.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is providing assistance to Pakistan using the Counter Terrorism Programme Fund to improve the capability of the police and criminal justice sector.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Counter-terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative (CAPRI) programme ran in Pakistan from 2013 to 2020, working to improve the capability of the police and criminal justice sector in Punjab. We remain committed to working together with the Government of Pakistan to combat the terrorist threat and the extremism that sustains it, in a human rights compliant manner.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2021 to Question 186166 on Pakistan: Counter-terrorism, whether his Department has allocated funding to the Counter-terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative programme for the 2021-22 financial year.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Counter-terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative (CAPRI) programme ran in Pakistan from 2013 to 2020, working to improve the capability of the police and criminal justice sector in Punjab. We remain committed to working together with the Government of Pakistan to combat the terrorist threat and the extremism that sustains it, in a human rights compliant manner.