Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the protection of interpreters who have previously worked for the Armed Forces and who no longer feel safe in their country of origin.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Her Majesty's Government does not have one single overarching policy but instead has two specific Cabinet Office agreed policies for Iraq and Afghanistan. The Iraq policy ensured all Iraqi interpreters who fulfilled the eligibility criteria for relocation, and asked to be, were relocated to the UK. Threat to life from insurgent/militia attacks outside of the working environment was a central consideration in the design of the scheme's eligibility criteria.
In Afghanistan, our Intimidation Policy supports all former locally employed staff who believe they are in danger as a result of their UK employment, irrespective of date, role, or length of service. Due to the concerted effort when employing local staff in Afghanistan, not to employ individuals from the local area, and to provide accommodation on base, the risk of off duty attacks was significantly lower and as such it was not necessary to relocate all interpreters to ensure their safety.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the safety of interpreters is monitored when they are no longer employed by the UK Government.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The general security is kept under careful review by the Foreign Office.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy to relocate interpreters regardless of where they have assisted British military personnel; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
In Iraq all Locally Employed Staff who fulfilled the eligibility criteria and requested it were resettled. Under this scheme 368 applicants and 960 dependants have entered the UK.
The National Security Council-agreed Ex-Gratia Scheme for Afghan local staff was announced on 4 June 2013, by the then Secretary of State for Defence. Locally Employed Staff who met the criteria were offered relocation as part of the Ex-Gratia Scheme. Currently over 420 Locally Employed Staff (including those formerly employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development) and 865 family members have relocated to the UK.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department maintains contact with interpreters who have worked for the Armed Forces in Kabul.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department only has contact with Afghan former locally employed staff if: they have reported intimidation to the Intimidation Investigation Unit in Kabul, they are in receipt of an option under the Ex-Gratia Scheme, or they are employed by a contractor that provides services to one of our bases. The Department avoids unnecessary contact with former staff as current association with the UK could put them at risk.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the safety of interpreters is monitored when they are no longer employed by the UK Government.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The general security is kept under careful review by the Foreign Office.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy to relocate interpreters regardless of where they have assisted British military personnel; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
In Iraq all Locally Employed Staff who fulfilled the eligibility criteria and requested it were resettled. Under this scheme 368 applicants and 960 dependants have entered the UK.
The National Security Council-agreed Ex-Gratia Scheme for Afghan local staff was announced on 4 June 2013, by the then Secretary of State for Defence. Locally Employed Staff who met the criteria were offered relocation as part of the Ex-Gratia Scheme. Currently over 420 Locally Employed Staff (including those formerly employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development) and 865 family members have relocated to the UK.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department maintains contact with interpreters who have worked for the Armed Forces in Kabul.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department only has contact with Afghan former locally employed staff if: they have reported intimidation to the Intimidation Investigation Unit in Kabul, they are in receipt of an option under the Ex-Gratia Scheme, or they are employed by a contractor that provides services to one of our bases. The Department avoids unnecessary contact with former staff as current association with the UK could put them at risk.