Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral evidence given by the Home Secretary on 27 October 2021 to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, what aspect of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme can she not operationalise; and for what reason.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is not yet open and remains under development. However, the first to be resettled through this scheme will be some of those who arrived in the UK as a result of the evacuation (Operation Pitting), which included individuals who were considered to be at particular risk. Officials are working urgently to stand up the remaining elements of the scheme. The Home Office will continue to work closely with other Government departments, non-Governmental organisations, charities, local authorities and other partners and relevant organisations in the development and implementation of the ACRS.

Further information on the eligibility, prioritisation and referral of people for the ACRS is set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September, available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement.