Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023, what was Project Bodywork.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

BODYWORK was a project to procure bespoke Explosive Ordnance and Disposal equipment. The BODYWORK contract was closed in June 2021 as a more suitable solution to Defence’s requirement was found.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the family reunification route for Afghans in the UK, under Pathway 1 of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme, will open; and what assessment they have made of the level of danger faced by the spouses and children who remain in Afghanistan of those who have resettled in the UK with indefinite leave to remain.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan. The situation continues to be complex and presents significant challenges, including how those who are eligible for resettlement in the UK can leave the country.

For those evacuated from Afghanistan under Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) without their immediate family members, the Home Secretary has committed to establishing a route for separated families to be reunited in the first half of this year. Further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023, what was Project GRACE.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Project GRACE relates to an infrastructure project in Northern Ireland which was cancelled owing to a change of requirements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many Afghans currently in the UK and awaiting implementation of the family reunion scheme for those who supported British personnel in Afghanistan have wives and children in Pakistan who are in danger of being returned to Afghanistan.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan. This includes eligible immediate family members of those being resettled under both the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).

Data on the number of Afghans in the UK who are awaiting a route for separated families to be reunited is unavailable at this time.

Public data on the number of Afghans in Pakistan who are eligible to join family members already resettled under both the ARAP and ACRS is unavailable. However; the latest published statistics, summarised at Afghan Resettlement Programme: operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), show that, at the end of December 2023, 14,423 people have been relocated to the UK under the ARAP so far, and a further 10,520 have been relocated under ACRS.

The Government is aiming to bring eligible persons (EPs) to the UK from Pakistan and other third countries as soon as reasonably practicable and has so far relocated over 3000 people since October.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the deadline of 1 August for implementation of the provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, given that the Office for Students has yet to publish guidance on the new complaints scheme relating to freedom of speech.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The main provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will come into force on 1 August 2024. Provisions surrounding the new regulatory framework and overseas funding will come into force on 1 September 2025. There is currently no intention to delay the commencement of these provisions, the department will lay the required secondary legislation to meet these implementation dates.

The department will work in collaboration with the Office for Students (OfS) to implement the Act, to allow time for the sector to update their policies and codes of practice. The department meets regularly with OfS to understand progress.

The OfS have already launched three consultations related to:

• The regulation of students’ unions (closed).
• The new free-to-use complaints scheme (closed).
• Its proposed approach, regulatory advice and guidance on the duties related to freedom of speech and academic freedom. (open until 26 May 2024).

The proposed guidance is intended to help providers, constituent institutions and students’ unions to navigate the new free speech duties that the OfS expects to regulate from 1 August 2024. The department understands that the OfS intends to publish the final version on or before 1 August 2024.

A provisional implementation timetable is available on the OfS website: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/quality-and-standards/freedom-of-speech/changes-to-regulation/.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Office for Students will provide guidance on the complaints scheme under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 in a timely manner, in compliance with the provisions of the Act.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The main provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will come into force on 1 August 2024.

The Office for Students (OfS) has already carried out consultations related to the regulation of students’ unions and new complaints scheme rules in December 2023. The department meets regularly with OfS to understand its progress on the implementation of the Act.

The OfS also launched a consultation on 26 March 2024 on its proposed approach, regulatory advice and guidance on the duties related to freedom of speech and academic freedom.

The proposed guidance is intended to help providers, constituent institutions and students’ unions to navigate the new free speech duties that the OfS expects to regulate from 1 August 2024. The department understands that the OfS intends to publish the final version on or before 1 August 2024.

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