Oral Answers to Questions

Jeff Smith Excerpts

Monday 18th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

We on the Conservative Benches will not perpetuate the myth that receiving universal credit is a bad thing. Many of these people are in high-paid and good jobs. It is a reflection of the fact that this Government support people into work and that military service gives them skills for life.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

10. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of the Afghan relocations and assistance policy.

[Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)]

14. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of the Afghan relocations and assistance policy.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (James Heappey)]

The Afghan relocations and assistance policy scheme has had more than 100,000 applications. Although I appreciation the desperation of many who apply, the reality is that staff numbers and even names of those who worked with us in Helmand are being shared, so it is hard to identify individual applicants. To that end—the entitlement is bound; we know who worked for us— last week, I engaged a number of non-governmental organisations and charities to help us find the people on the list of those who actually worked with us, so that we can bring them to the front of the queue and get them out as quickly as possible.

[Jeff Smith]

Ministers confirmed last month that around 8,000 Afghans and their families could still be eligible for relocation to the UK under the ARAP scheme. The Minister says that it is hard to identify those people, so what specifically are Ministers doing to identify them, to establish pathways to get them here, and to process their applications as quickly as possible?

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (James Heappey)]

We learn an awful lot from watching the way that modern conflict is being prosecuted in Ukraine, and that is indeed shaping our analysis of the stockpiles we need to hold, particularly given the intensity of the modern artillery battle.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

T3. This October will see the 70th anniversary of the British nuclear tests. What are Ministers doing to formally recognise our nuclear veterans ahead of that date?

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty)]

I recently met the families, alongside the Prime Minister. I committed at that meeting to instruct the MOD to look afresh at the case to be made, and that work is ongoing.