Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme are decided strictly in the order in which they were submitted.
Answered by James Heappey
As at 22nd February over 110,000 applications have been received to the Afghan Relocation & Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme and a dedicated team of caseworkers are working 7 days a week to process these applications. Routinely, applications are progressed in the order they have been received. In some cases, further information has to be requested from the applicant, and subject to that being received (and when) this may have implications for when decisions on the application are made. In exceptional circumstances, HMG may expedite ARAP applications. This will generally (but not exclusively) be where ARAP caseworkers become aware that there is credible evidence one or more of the following applies: there is an unusually high and imminent threat to life; the applicant requires immediate life-saving medical treatment for a medical condition unavailable in their current location; there are implications for diplomatic and international relations; or there are implications for national security.
We continue to devote significant resources to this task; and, to date our efforts have resulted in the relocation to the UK of over 8,000 ARAP principals and their dependants.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of NHS dentists in (a) Plymouth, Moor View constituency, (b) the South West and (c) England.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
In 2020/2021 there were 23,733 dentists with National Health Service activity in England and 2,560 in the South West. Data is not collected at constituency level.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the recruitment challenges in the NHS dentistry sector; and what steps he is taking to support the recruitment of NHS dentists.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Following a three-year review of dental education and training, Health Education England set out recommendations in the Advancing Dental Care Review. These aim to tackle recruitment and retention challenges, attracting more dentists into the National Health Service. These recommendations will be implemented through the Dental Education Reform Programme.
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing proposals to reform the current NHS dental contract, working with the British Dental Association. This aims to improve access for patients and make working for the NHS more attractive for dentists and their teams. The Department is also currently working with the General Dental Council on legislative proposals to allow greater flexibility to expand overseas registration routes open to international applicants.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to reform the NHS dental contract to improve access to NHS dentistry.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing proposals for dental system reform, working with stakeholders, such as the British Dental Association. This includes proposals to improve patient access, reduce health inequalities and make the National Health Service a more attractive place to work for dentists.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans she has to allow Afghan refugees given Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, to join the armed forces in the UK.
Answered by James Heappey
Individuals with Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK have no immigration restrictions on their employment however, as per s.340 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 the right to enlist in the UK Armed Forces is restricted to British or Commonwealth citizens, or either sole or dual nationals of the Republic of Ireland. The only exception to this legislation is the special and unique arrangement permitting Nepalese citizens to enlist in the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Afghans relocated under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, and any other migrants to the UK would be eligible to enlist in the UK Armed Forces once they had applied for and obtained British nationality.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to issue updated guidance following the lifting of covid-19 Plan B restrictions for people assessed as being clinically extremely vulnerable.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Government ended the shielding programme on 15 September 2021. People previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to follow general guidance, while considering extra precautions to reduce the risk of infection. Updated public health advice was issued on 24 December 2021 for those previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable, which is available at the following link:
We have also issued guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19, which is available at the following link:
NHS England and NHS Improvement have written to general practices and hospital trusts in England to raise awareness of the guidance.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when each Afghan national who arrived in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, Operation Pitting and the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme will be awarded Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
In recognition of the urgency of the evacuation and the need to act quickly, the majority of those who entered the UK during the evacuation phase were granted limited leave to enter, usually for 6 months, with access to public funds and employment. This status is not a bar to them being permanently housed or to starting their life in the UK, including taking employment.
The Home Office has now started the process to support all those currently in the UK with 6 months leave to apply for and be granted ILR. We will be providing support for the completion of application forms, which will be required to ensure we obtain up to date personal information and to obtain the necessary biometric resident permit consent. Our aim is to conclude this process before anyone’s leave expires.
Communications have been issued advising individuals of next steps to progress permanent residence in the UK. Amongst the information provided, those communications confirm individuals’ rights to employment and to access services (e.g. medical treatment, school places). They also provide links to guidance and information on how prospective employers and landlords can contact the Home Office to confirm individuals’ right to take employment and rented accommodation.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps Afghan nationals who have settled in the UK under the (a) Ex-Gratia Scheme and (b) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme need to take to apply for relocation of additional family members in response to the security threat faced by those family members in Afghanistan.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Individuals already settled in the UK under ARAP/EX-Gratia scheme seeking relocation for additional family members are required to apply under the additional family guidance via their original sponsoring department (MOD or FCDO). Application For Relocation To The United Kingdom Under ARAP (office.com)
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
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 6 December 2021; and what steps her Department is taking to facilitate the return of those people to the UK.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
At the end of Operation Pitting 311 principals called forward to Hamid Karzai Airport under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme had not been evacuated. 99 of them are now in the UK and 45 in third countries. Helping all those who want to leave Afghanistan and who are eligible to come to the UK remains a priority. The Government has made clear to the Taliban the need to ensure safe passage of those entitled to go to another country. The Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit, staffed by officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle those eligible to come to the UK. The ARAP scheme remains open.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department has provided to support the 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghan nationals at UK universities under Operation Warm Welcome; and how many of those scholarships have been awarded.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
A significant cross-government effort is under way, dubbed ‘Operation Warm Welcome’, to ensure Afghans arriving in the UK receive the vital support they need to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education, and integrate into their local communities.
As part of Operation Warm Welcome, it was announced there would be further funding for up to 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghans at UK universities. The department will update with further details of this programme in due course.