Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she is having with his Pakistani counterpart on ensuring that people who have crossed the border into Pakistan from Afghanistan, who fall into priority groups recognised under the UK's Afghan citizens resettlement scheme, will be able to remain safely in Pakistan until their resettlement applications have been processed; and what support will those people receive on the ground from the Government during this period.

The Government has worked at pace to develop and launch a new and bespoke Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which will relocate 5,000 vulnerable people in its first year, rising to up to 20,000 over the coming years – one of the most generous schemes in British history.

On Monday 13^th September the Government published a policy statement which set out further details on the policy and operation of the ACRS, including in relation to the eligibility and selection of people under the Scheme.

Given the complex picture in Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries, it is important that the Government fully considers the operational delivery of the scheme with its international partners. We are working at pace to do that.