Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who are offered assistance under Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy by the Ministry of Defence are granted permission to enter the UK.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) offers relocation to eligible Afghan citizens who worked for, or with, a UK government department in Afghanistan - in exposed, meaningful or enabling roles and assessed to be at serious risk as a result of their work. This scheme remains open, and it is free to apply to. Those who are eligible for relocation under the ARAP can relocate with dependent family members.

The Ministry of Defence refers eligible Afghan citizens and their family members to the Home Office for permission to enter the UK subject to the enrolment of biometrics and security checks.

There is no option to enrol biometrics in Afghanistan. We are working with the authorities in neighbouring countries and with international partners to ensure biometric enrolment can be carried out in as rapid and efficient a manner as possible.

The UK is working with international partners, including non-governmental organisations and other countries, to secure safe routes out of Afghanistan as soon as they become available, starting with those in most need. We also intend to establish a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan as soon as the security and political situation allows. We are coordinating this effort with allies.