Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) Afghan interpreters, and (2) members of their immediate family are currently awaiting (a) a decision on their relocation to the UK under the Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia Scheme, and (b) implementation of the decision that they may relocate to the UK under that scheme.

The Department is currently examining the cases of seven former Locally Employed Staff (LES) to establish their eligibility under the Ex-Gratia Scheme, all of which are expected to be resolved by the end of April.

If the former LES member is found to be eligible then the relocation process can begin immediately. As no decision has been reached, no family details have been obtained and I am therefore unable to give numbers of family members.

There are five former LES and twenty-eight family members waiting to relocate to the UK. Three are scheduled to be relocated within the next three months and two have requested that their relocation be temporarily suspended for personal reasons.