Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Oral Statement on Illegal Migration Update by the Minister for Immigration on 29 March 2023, Official Report, column 1018, which military sites will be used to house asylum claimants in (a) Essex, (b) Lincolnshire and (c) East Sussex.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We do not comment on individual sites. The Home Office are assessing all suitable options for accommodation.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) principals and (b) dependants have been relocated from Afghanistan to the UK via the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme under (i) Pathway 2 and (ii) Pathway 3 since June 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The latest Immigration System Statistics, year ending December 2022, show that since their first arrivals in 2021, the Afghan schemes – the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) - have resettled a total of 21,387 people.
The ACRS will see up to 20,000 people from Afghanistan and the region resettled to the UK over the coming years.
Under the second pathway, which opened in 2022, we have now begun to receive the first referrals from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of vulnerable refugees who have fled Afghanistan for resettlement to the UK. We are pleased to have welcomed the first 22 people to the UK under Pathway 2.
Under Pathway 3 we have welcomed the first arrivals to the UK and look forward welcoming all remaining individuals under this Pathway as soon as is practically possible. There are currently no published statistics on Pathway 3 as arrivals under this pathway began after the start of the new reporting period. The next publication of statistics is due on 25 May 2023.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been referred by the UNHCR to Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The latest Immigration System Statistics, year ending December 2022, show that since their first arrivals in 2021, the Afghan schemes – the ACRS and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) - have resettled a total of 21,387 people.
There are currently no published statistics on UNHCR referrals. We do not hold public data on the volume of referrals from UNHCR. The next publication of statistics is due on 25 May 2023 and may include this data. However, we anticipate receiving referrals from UNHCR for up to 2,000 refugees during the first year of pathway 2, although this number will be kept under review.
Those referred under Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be assessed for resettlement by UNHCR using their established process, and in line with their resettlement submission categories, which are based on people’s needs and vulnerabilities.
Referrals are then assessed by the Home Office through a case working process and commissioning of relevant screening and security checks. Other aspects of the case, including medical, housing, and safeguarding needs, will be considered at this stage.
We are pleased to have now welcomed the first 22 arrivals to the UK under ACRS Pathway 2, and we will continue to welcome many more people as we receive further UNHCR referrals.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Minister holds the responsibilities previously held by the Minister for Afghan Resettlement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
As Minister for Immigration, I lead on Resettlement: this includes Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.
The Rt Hon member for Wells holds responsibility for Defence Afghanistan Relocation as Minister for Armed Forces. We work closely with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon as Minister for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2023 to Question 162117 on Afghanistan: Refugees, how many Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (a) principals and (b) dependents were housed in bridging hotels on 15 March 2023 following their relocation to the UK under that scheme.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
All those resettling under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) or Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), have recourse to public funds and the right to work and study.
We are working intensively across government, and in partnership with local authorities across the country to both bring down the number of people in bridging hotels and help families move into more sustainable accommodation as quickly as possible so they can put down permanent roots. Local authorities currently receive integration tariff funding of £20,520 per person, over three years, for each Afghan family they resettle and provide full integration support to for this duration.
Statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes is available in the Immigration System Statistics, year ending December 2022(opens in a new tab) release.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) (a) principals and (b) dependents are currently being housed in bridging hotels following their relocation to the UK under that scheme.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government continues to work at pace, in collaboration with over 350 local authorities across the UK, to meet the demand for housing. Alongside this, we are reaching out to landlords, developers, and the wider private rented sector to encourage further offers of properties.
All those resettling under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) or Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), have recourse to public funds and the right to work and study.
We are working intensely across government, and in partnership with c.350 local authorities across the country to both bring down the number of people in bridging hotels and move families into more sustainable accommodation as quickly as possible so they can put down permanent roots. Local authorities currently receive integration tariff funding of £20,520 per person, over three years, for each Afghan family they resettle and provide full integration support to for this duration.
The UK is currently experiencing a shortage of local housing accommodation for all, and we acknowledge that sourcing appropriate accommodation for Afghan families can be a complex process due to the diverse needs of those we are supporting. However, this government will remain committed to ensuring each and every Afghan family resettling in the UK has a permanent home. Whilst hotels do not provide a long-term solution, they do offer safe, secure and clean accommodation.
Statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes is available in the Immigration System Statistics, year ending December 2022 release.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list the surplus military sites that have been identified as alternatives to hotels for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We do not routinely comment on individual sites or proposals that may or may not be used for bridging or asylum accommodation.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the annual research and development budget was of the intelligence agencies in each year since 2010.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The budget for the Security and Intelligence Agencies is paid through the Single Intelligence Account (SIA). This is published on an annual basis. The total budgets since 2010 are:
2021/22 - £4.12 billion
2020/21 - £3.72 billion
2019/20 - £3.49 billion
2018/19 – £3.22 billion
2017/18 – £3.02 billion
2016/17 - £2.92 billion
2015/16 – £2.93 billion
2014/15 - £2.63 billion
2013/14 - £2.52 billion
2012/13 - £2.54 billion
2011/12 - £2.38 billion
2010/11 - £2.01 billion
We do not publish break downs on research and development expenditure for national security reasons. Security and Intelligence Agency budgets are audited by the National Audit Office and expenditure is scrutinised by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of those eligible for the Afghan Relations and Assistance Policy scheme and safely evacuated to the UK have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Since April 2021, we have relocated over 11,200 Afghans to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
The recent update to the published 'Afghan Resettlement: Operational Data', shows that, at 4th November 2022:
The figures shown here should be considered provisional, whilst work is underway to assure information relating to all the individuals relocated under the ARAP and resettled under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) on case working systems. Once this work concludes, statistics on both schemes - including the number of people resettled under each - will be included in the published Immigration Statistics.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason an RAF helicopter was used to transport her to the Manston asylum processing site on 3 November 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The overflight of the operational area was a critical part of an itinerary put together and approved by Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney to enable the Home Secretary to get an overview of operations in the Channel.