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Written Question
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Friday 12th January 2024

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his Rwandan counterpart on potential threats to the personal safety of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

We regularly discuss the importance of open political space with the Rwandan government. I did so during my visit to Kigali in August 2023, and we continue to engage with Rwandan officials on this issue via our High Commission.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of 17 October 2023 by the Minister for Immigration on safe asylum routes for Afghan refugees, Official Report, Column 54WH, how many and what proportion of people who submitted an Expression of Interest in resettlement to the UK under Pathway 3 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and have been assessed by his Department as eligible in principle for resettlement under that pathway are located in (a) Afghanistan and (b) a third country.

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

Given the sensitivity of the security checks element of the process, we are unable to give precise numbers of individuals at each stage of the process. This is a dynamic picture, which changes daily. It would not be helpful for those in Afghanistan for us to give a running commentary on numbers, which could draw attention to those preparing to cross the border.

As of 19 October, there are circa 910 eligible individuals under ACRS Pathway 3 being supported in third countries.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to arrange for the relocation of Afghan nationals eligible under the (a) Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and (b) Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to the UK from (i) Pakistan and (ii) Iran; and if he will make a statement.

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

HMG continues to welcome families to the UK under Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Government looks forward to bringing all remaining eligible individuals to the UK as soon as practicable. We know there is still a way to go to bring those eligible to safety in the UK, but we are committed to continuing to welcome eligible Afghans through ARAP and ACRS.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Wednesday 25th October 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 3: eligibility for British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening Alumni, published on 17 October 2023, which countries are included in Afghanistan’s neighbouring region.

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

Under Pathway 3 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) the Government will offer places to eligible at risk British Council Contractors, Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni including their eligible family members from Afghanistan and the neighbouring region, which includes all countries that border Afghanistan. Each expression of interest is considered on a case-by-case basis. As announced on 17 October the FCDO will now refer all eligible people who expressed interest, including where this exceeds the original allocation of 1,500 places.


Written Question
Passports: British National (Overseas)
Wednesday 31st May 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has issued guidance to British banks operating in Hong Kong on recognition of British National (Overseas) passports as valid identity documents for pension withdrawal.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are aware of the difficulties BN(O)s are experiencing in seeking early withdrawal of their pension held by the Mandatory Provident Fund in Hong Kong. The root of the problem is the Chinese Government's decision not to recognise the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport as a valid identity document in Hong Kong. The UK firmly opposes the discrimination of BN(O)s in this way. We have urged the Hong Kong authorities to facilitate the early drawdown of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently. I last did so with Christopher Hui, Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury on 18 April and pressed for a pragmatic solution. The Investment Minister, Lord Johnson, also raised the matter with Hong Kong's Commercial Secretary, Algernon Yau, during his recent visit to Hong Kong.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Tuesday 16th May 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what educational facilities are available to children eligible for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy who are currently staying in Government-funded temporary accommodation in (a) Pakistan and (b) other countries.

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

It is not possible for HMG to offer full access to education or to the UK education curriculum for those being supported temporarily in third countries. Some children have been offered school places in some host countries and others are receiving some form of limited education support - primarily English lessons.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Monday 15th May 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what safeguarding measures are in place to protect children eligible for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy who are currently staying in Government-funded temporary accommodation in (a) Pakistan and (b) other countries.

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

Caseworkers in Islamabad support eligible people in HMG-funded accommodation in Pakistan. This includes regular welfare checks. A mixture of MOD and FCDO staff provide support in other third countries. Any safeguarding incidents are dealt with by these teams as they arise. MOD staff maintain contact with eligible people who are in Afghanistan.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Monday 15th May 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what costs the Government has incurred in providing accommodation in (a) Pakistan, (b) Iran, (c) Turkey and (d) other countries for people eligible for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.

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

The total cost HMG has incurred in providing accommodation to ARAP-eligible individuals in third countries between January 2022 to March 2023 is as follows:

Pakistan: approximately £15.4 million.

Iran: approximately £240,000.

Turkey: approximately £80,000.

Other countries: approximately £20,000.


Written Question
Trust Fund for Victims
Wednesday 11th January 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of potential merits of using the International Criminal Court's Trust Fund for Victims as a means of providing financial compensation to Ukrainian victims of international crimes within the terms of the Rome Statute of that court.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The United Kingdom has provided €4.5 million to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trust Fund for Victims since 2004, the most recent contribution being made in April 2022. The Fund implements Court-ordered reparations against a convicted person and provides physical, psychological and material support to victims and their families via its assistance programmes. The Fund's Board of Directors is appointed by the ICC's Assembly of State Parties and approves the allocations of assistance programmes.


Written Question
Trust Fund for Victims
Wednesday 11th January 2023

Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what financial contributions the Government has made to the International Criminal Court's Trust Fund for Victims in each year since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK has been one of the largest contributors to the Trust Fund for Victims, contributing £2.1million since 2010 in support of victim survivors of conflict related sexual and gender-based violence. The Fund implements Court-ordered reparations against a convicted person and provides physical, psychological and material support to victims and their families via its assistance programmes.

UK funding since 2010 can be broken down as follows: 2010 - €45,100; 2011 - €584,500; 2012 - €640,700; 2013 - €611,000; 2014 - €1,579,100; 2015 - €0; 2016 - €78,900; 2017 - €459,400; 2018 - €28,400; 2019 - €0; 2020 - €186,300; 2021 -€69,459; 2022 - €84,000