Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy to Afghan (a) special forces personnel and (b) fighter pilots trained by UK Armed Forces who face risks of reprisal in Afghanistan.

There are no plans to widen the ARAP criteria, which is more generous than previous Afghan relocation schemes. Furthermore, the provisions requested by the hon. Member in her question are already catered for by the ARAP scheme under Category 4. This category provides for eligibility to be granted on a case-by-case basis to Afghan nationals who worked in Afghanistan alongside a UK Government Department, or in partnership with or closely supporting and assisting that Department; alongside consideration, amongst other criteria, of the contribution an individual made to UK objectives and the threat they are now under.

The full criteria are publicly available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy-information-and-guidance