Resettlement of Afghans

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Peter Bottomley

Tuesday 19th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Johnny Mercer]

The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, because he lives in a different world. All the bridging hotels are closed, and nobody has slept rough. I am proud of the team that has delivered that. We have not done it for him or for a pat on the back from the Labour party; we have done it because it is the right thing to do for the Afghan people, because on this side of the House we believe in something and in doing right by these people, and we will deliver on our promises to them as we continue into the future.

[Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con)]

I thank the Minister for dealing appropriately with the response from the Opposition Front Bench. During the next week I would like him, or one of his colleagues, to follow up the case that I raised with the Leader of the House last Thursday. An International Security Assistance Force commander said of that person that he,

“because of his service in support of the NATO Armed Forces in the Afghan Theatre of Combat Operations…has suffered and continues suffering threats to the life and property of himself.”

I know that is not for the Minister to answer today, but I make that request. I want to be approached by the right person to find out how we can solve that problem.

[Johnny Mercer]

My office will have heard that today. We will ensure that that individual’s case—I saw my hon. Friend’s question last week—is raised with my office. We will do everything we can to provide him with an answer and to see where we go from there.

All-party Parliamentary Groups

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Peter Bottomley

Wednesday 19th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Johnny Mercer]

I strongly urge Members to take that course of action. Voting down the motion would be extremely self-defeating.

[Sir Peter Bottomley]

I hope that what the Chair of the Committee has just said can be interpreted as including not only the transitional arrangements, but some of the minor arrangements that are no threat to the major purposes behind this.

[Johnny Mercer]

I am sure the Chair of the Committee has heard that remark—

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Peter Bottomley

Thursday 22nd June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con)]

I say to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs that we are grateful for the work he does. Can he ask those in his private office whether they will show him the message I sent him yesterday about the secretary to a governor in Afghanistan, who is in hiding and whose grandfather has been killed trying to protect him, to see whether there is anything the British Government can do to allow him to come out of Afghanistan?

[Johnny Mercer]

I recognise the ongoing concerns about those who remain in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister has asked me to do what I can to get the Afghans who are currently in hotels into long-term accommodation in the UK. That will allow us to turn back on those flights out of Afghanistan. I recognise that there are still people there who should be in the UK, and I will, of course, look at the case my hon. Friend raises later today. That process of bringing people out of Afghanistan remains with the MOD, but it will have heard his comments and I will do everything I can to help him.