Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support Chevening scholars from Afghanistan for the academic year 2020-21 whose biometric residence permits have expired.

We are aware that there are Chevening scholars from Afghanistan for the academic year 2020-21 whose biometric residence permits have expired. We are working with the Home Office to clarify options for this group to regularise their stay. Hardship funds have been provided to eligible scholars from this cohort this financial year.