Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with the (a) Secretary of State for Defence and (b) Home Secretary to expedite the relocation of the 30 plus British Council contractors and their families who have previously been approved for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy but remain in Afghanistan.

Providing support to those individuals eligible for Her Majesty's Government support, including the remaining Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy approved British Council contractors, remains a top priority and we have focused our efforts on this, including putting in additional resources. We have created a new Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit, staffed by officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, which is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle individuals and those family members confirmed to be eligible. We will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK to leave Afghanistan.