Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been referred by the UNHCR to Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme.

The latest Immigration System Statistics, year ending December 2022, show that since their first arrivals in 2021, the Afghan schemes – the ACRS and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) - have resettled a total of 21,387 people.

There are currently no published statistics on UNHCR referrals. We do not hold public data on the volume of referrals from UNHCR. The next publication of statistics is due on 25 May 2023 and may include this data. However, we anticipate receiving referrals from UNHCR for up to 2,000 refugees during the first year of pathway 2, although this number will be kept under review.

Those referred under Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be assessed for resettlement by UNHCR using their established process, and in line with their resettlement submission categories, which are based on people’s needs and vulnerabilities.

Referrals are then assessed by the Home Office through a case working process and commissioning of relevant screening and security checks. Other aspects of the case, including medical, housing, and safeguarding needs, will be considered at this stage.

We are pleased to have now welcomed the first 22 arrivals to the UK under ACRS Pathway 2, and we will continue to welcome many more people as we receive further UNHCR referrals.