Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"Thank you for calling me early in this debate, Mr Deputy Speaker. I want to start by talking about a couple of the points mentioned by the right hon. Member for Warley (John Spellar), which I completely agree with, on mindset and attitude towards defence. He was nuanced and careful …..."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"That is a really fair point. That was the whole point of enforcing things such as the Ranger battalions, but it was founded really on something that is not true, which is that mass is irrelevant—it is not. Data, technology and all this stuff is important. But look at what …..."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"Perhaps not for my right hon. Friend—I am sure he hit it every time—but I can only speak for myself and I found it pretty hard to hit the target. These new NLAW weapons are fantastic. They require such a low train-the-trainer base that we can teach Ukrainians to do …..."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
View all Johnny Mercer (Con - Plymouth, Moor View) contributions to the debate on: Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"My right hon. Friend makes a really valid point. Of all the decisions that we make on defence, I will genuinely be stunned if the Government proceed with that reduction in personnel, given what is happening at the moment.
Let me finish by saying something about attitude and mindset. I …..."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"I agree entirely with my hon. Friend...."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
View all Johnny Mercer (Con - Plymouth, Moor View) contributions to the debate on: Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"My right hon. Friend is completely right. The whole end of Afghanistan should be a deep inflection point for the west and our attitude to the utility of force and what we can actually achieve in the foreign policy space. What does victory look like? What are victory and defeat …..."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
View all Johnny Mercer (Con - Plymouth, Moor View) contributions to the debate on: Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Mar 2022
Defence Supplementary Estimate 2021-22
"Yes, but I will finish here, as my final points are around the people. It really pains me deeply how these people feel after they have spent time in the military. For many of us, it was the most amazing time of our lives. People like me were incredibly lucky …..."Johnny Mercer - View Speech
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Written Question
Thursday 24th February 2022
Asked by:
Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question
to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his most recent estimate is for when applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme as of 18 February 2022 will have been processed.
Answered by James Heappey
As of 18 February 2022, over 110,000 applications have been received; many of which are found to be incomplete or duplications. We do not record metrics for the processing times of applications, and any number of factors can affect how long it takes for an applicant to progress through each stage of the process. For example: their location, access to IT, employment history verification, security checks, or family circumstances.
We continue to devote significant resources to this task; a dedicated team of caseworkers work seven days a week to process pending applications. To date, their efforts have resulted in the relocation to the UK of over 8,000 eligible applicants and dependants.
Written Question
Thursday 24th February 2022
Asked by:
Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question
to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which month were the applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme being processed as of 18 February 2022 submitted.
Answered by James Heappey
As of 18 February 2022, over 110,000 applications have been received; many of which are found to be incomplete or duplications. We do not record metrics for the processing times of applications, and any number of factors can affect how long it takes for an applicant to progress through each stage of the process. For example: their location, access to IT, employment history verification, security checks, or family circumstances.
We continue to devote significant resources to this task; a dedicated team of caseworkers work seven days a week to process pending applications. To date, their efforts have resulted in the relocation to the UK of over 8,000 eligible applicants and dependants.
Written Question
Thursday 24th February 2022
Asked by:
Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question
to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what work has been undertaken on an application to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy for that application to be categorised as (a) pending, (b) in progress, (c) processed and (d) complete.
Answered by James Heappey
Applications that have been received but are pending a decision on eligibility are regarded as 'pending'.
Applications assessed as eligible and undergoing the casework processes necessary to facilitate relocation to the UK are regarded as 'in progress'.
Applications that have concluded the casework process are cleared for relocation but are awaiting relocation are regarded as 'processed'.
Applications where the principal applicant and any dependants have arrived in the UK and been passed into the care of the Home Office are regarded as 'complete'.
As at 22 February the Afghan Relocation & Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme has received in excess of 110,000 applications. To meet this unprecedented challenge a dedicated team of caseworkers are working 7 days a week to process these applications.