Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to expedite applications for resettlement to the UK made by Afghan people who are (a) in Pakistan and (b) at risk of being removed to Afghanistan before they receive a decision.

We continue to honour our commitment to bring eligible Afghans to the UK and plans are underway to relocate families as soon as possible.

Afghans in third countries including in Pakistan who are eligible for resettlement to the UK continue to be supported by the UK Government, and flights from Pakistan to the UK continue to take place. However, we are unable to provide further operational details on this.

The UK Government is aware of recent announcements made by the Government of Pakistan regarding Afghans being illegally present in Pakistan. We have engaged intensively with the Government of Pakistan to secure assurances that none of those eligible under Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be subject to deportation while they await relocation to the UK.