Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to correspondence of (a) 28 February, (b) 28 March, (c) 26 April and (d) 25 May 2022 from the on. Member for Basildon and Billericay on a constituent, reference JB36531.
Answered by Steve Double
I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member. A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 8 July 2022.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to correspondence of 8 March, 30 March, 25 April and 25 May 2022 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding a constituent, reference JB36639.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Unfortunately, DWP did not have a record of receiving the correspondence referred to. A DWP official contacted the hon. members office on 5 July, where a copy of the original email was provided to DWP. This has shown the original email was sent to an invalid email address.
When DWP receive correspondence from a Member of Parliament, they aim to fully resolve or agree a resolution within 15 working days of receipt. The Child maintenance Service will provide a further update to the MP by 26 July.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to correspondence dated 24 January, 22 February, 29 March, 10 May and 15 May 2022 from the hon Member for Basildon and Billericay, relating to a constituent, ref: JB36006.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government recognises the great importance of the effective and timely handling of correspondence, and the important points raised by my Hon Friend on behalf of his constituent. A Minister will respond to his correspondence shortly.
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 - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
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.
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 - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
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.
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 - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
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.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 4 February, 8 March, 11 April and 12 May 2022 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding a constituent, case reference JB36201.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office responded to the Hon. Member’s correspondence on 8 June 2022
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to correspondence dated 10 March, 13 April and 12 May 2022 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay, relating to a constituent, case reference JB36685.
Answered by Simon Clarke
HM Treasury apologises for the delay in responding, the Honourable Member was sent a response on 14th June.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to letters dated (a) 6 January, (b) 8 February, (c) 9 March and (d) 11 April 2022 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay in respect of his constituent, reference JB35637.
Answered by Edward Argar
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 4 October 2021, 15 November 2021, 20 December 2021, 27 January 2022 and 2 March 2022 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding a constituent, case reference JB34441.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
A response was issued on to my Hon Friend's letter on 9 February 2022.