Refugees: Afghanistan

(asked on 15th September 2021) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what mechanism she estimates the number of people who have crossed borders to third countries from Afghanistan who will qualify for the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme; and on what basis the cap of 5,000 was decided for help under that scheme.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 29th September 2021

The Government has committed to welcoming around 5,000 people in the first year of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, and up to 20,000 in total. This is one of the most ambitious resettlement schemes in our country’s history. Dedicated officials have worked day and night to support this unprecedented response.

It is important that we resettle people safely and provide appropriate support including with healthcare, education, jobs and housing. When considering the number of people we resettle, it is right that we take into account the capacity of local communities to provide this support, and that we do not take more people than we can accommodate.

On 13 September, I made a statement to the House of Commons providing details of the scheme. A policy statement is now published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement.

I would urge all Rt Honourable and Honourable Members to encourage their Local Authorities to come forward and support the efforts to resettle Afghans.

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