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Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Tuesday 15th November 2022

Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (a) when and (b) how British Council contractors in Afghanistan eligible under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will be relocated to the UK.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Once initial security and biographic checks are completed on British Council contractors who are assessed as eligible, they can start the relocation process. Travelling from Afghanistan can be challenging, particularly for those who are undocumented. The UK government continues to work, including with likeminded partners and countries neighbouring Afghanistan, on resettlement issues and to support safe passage for eligible Afghans. We do not comment on the details of specific routes for individuals who are eligible for resettlement.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Tuesday 15th November 2022

Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British Council contractors in Afghanistan who submitted their Expressions of Interest via the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme have received confirmation of their eligibility; and when he expects the remainder to do so.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) Pathway 3, the FCDO received over 11,400 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) before the window to submit EOIs closed on 15 August 2022. We are in the process of assessing their eligibility and have started notifying individuals of the outcome, and contacting those eligible with details of the next steps. We are working to process cases as soon as is practicably possible. However, we are not yet in a position to provide numbers for each of the 3 cohorts who meet the eligibility criteria. In the first year, we will offer up to 1500 places to eligible at-risk British Council contractors, GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni, including their eligible family members.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Nov 2022
Sri Lanka

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View all John Baron (Con - Basildon and Billericay) contributions to the debate on: Sri Lanka

Speech in General Committees - Mon 05 Sep 2022
Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

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View all John Baron (Con - Basildon and Billericay) contributions to the debate on: Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

Speech in General Committees - Mon 05 Sep 2022
Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

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View all John Baron (Con - Basildon and Billericay) contributions to the debate on: Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 23 Jun 2022
British Council Contractors: Afghanistan

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View all John Baron (Con - Basildon and Billericay) contributions to the debate on: British Council Contractors: Afghanistan

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 23 Jun 2022
British Council Contractors: Afghanistan

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View all John Baron (Con - Basildon and Billericay) contributions to the debate on: British Council Contractors: Afghanistan

Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Monday 20th June 2022

Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she is having with her counterpart in (a) Pakistan and (b) other states which may be able to support the relocation of British Council contractors who have been approved under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme; and what her timeframe is for putting in place arrangements to enable people who are most at risk to leave Afghanistan via those third countries.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Under the third referral pathway of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), the Government will consider Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible at risk British Council Contractors for possible resettlement, as well as from Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni. The FCDO will launch an online system on 20 June to begin accepting EOIs; this will be open until 14 August. The scheme will help those at risk in Afghanistan and the neighbouring region. Expressions of Interest from British Council contractors, and the other eligible groups, will be considered in the order in which they are received. Some will be prioritised because of the role they performed or the project they worked on, or in exceptionally compelling circumstances.

We will resettle those referred under the scheme as soon as possible after the necessary checks are completed. The UK has supported over 4,600 individuals to leave Afghanistan since the end of Operation Pitting. We are grateful to our partners, including the Government of Pakistan, for their cooperation, and we maintain close contact with all Governments in the region.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Monday 20th June 2022

Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will ensure that British Council contractors deemed eligible for relocation under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme and at very high risk will be approved and processed in a way that enables them to leave Afghanistan and travel to the UK for resettlement ahead of other candidates and as soon as possible.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Under the third referral pathway of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), the Government will consider Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible at risk British Council Contractors for possible resettlement, as well as from Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni. The FCDO will launch an online system on Monday 20 June to begin accepting EOIs; this will be open until Sunday 14 August. The scheme will help those at risk in Afghanistan and the neighbouring region. Expressions of Interest from British Council contractors, and the other eligible groups, will be considered in the order in which they are received. Some will be prioritised because of the role they performed or the project they worked on, or in exceptionally compelling circumstances.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Monday 20th June 2022

Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she wil take steps to prioritise British Council contractors completing expressions of interest in the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme for (a) approval and (b) relocation; and if she will ensure that contractors who are deemed at most risk are expedited for (i) approval and (ii) relocation.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Under the third referral pathway of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), the Government will consider Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible at risk British Council Contractors for possible resettlement, as well as from Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni. The FCDO will launch an online system on Monday 20 June to begin accepting EOIs; this will be open until Sunday 14 August. The scheme will help those at risk in Afghanistan and the neighbouring region. Expressions of Interest from British Council contractors, and the other eligible groups, will be considered in the order in which they are received. Some will be prioritised because of the role they performed or the project they worked on, or in exceptionally compelling circumstances.