Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that Afghan Interpreters are eligible for help from UK service charities.

When former Locally Employed Staff (LES) are relocated to the UK, we provide funding for four months of support by the Local Authority through a contracted support provider. These support providers offer assistance to the former LES in areas such as familiarisation with their new location and setting up their new home; finding school or nursery places for children; access to English language lessons, including women only classes, and courses to assist the former LES in finding employment. After the four month point, care and support properly become the responsibility of the local government and healthcare providers.

We receive reports from Local Authorities on how successfully former LES have settled at the four month point. We cannot legitimately track former LES beyond this point. But, in the cases of severely disabled former LES, we have worked with Local Authorities, the care providers and a Service Charity (Help 4 Heroes) to facilitate additional charitable support.