Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the target timeframe will be to process applications submitted to the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme.

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.