Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan interpreters who had worked with the British armed forces have to date been relocated in the UK under the ex gratia redundancy scheme; how many such cases are currently in the pipeline awaiting relocation; and what percentage of those eligible for the redundancy scheme have to date applied for relocation to the UK.

The UK is committed to supporting our current and former local staff in Afghanistan, and our well-established ex-gratia redundancy scheme recognises their contribution and the debt of gratitude we owe them. Eligible former staff who were made redundant as a result of the UK drawdown can choose between: an in-country package of up to five years of training along with financial support (this option can also be 'gifted' to immediate family members); a financial package of 18 months' salary; and for eligible former staff who worked in a frontline role for 12 months or more, the option to apply to relocate to the UK with their spouse and children.

As of 31 October 2017, over 380 former local staff and their families have relocated to the UK under this scheme, over 1,000 people in total. Of these, approximately 350 worked for the Ministry of Defence; the others worked for the Foreign Office or the Department for International Development. There are around 50 more former staff who are awaiting relocation. The majority of those who have relocated worked as interpreters, however some staff who worked in other roles, such as cultural advisers, have also relocated under the scheme. The vast majority of those eligible for relocation - around 90 per cent - chose this option; however, some elected to remain in Afghanistan and take up one of the other offers available under the scheme. Over 350 former staff who did not work in frontline roles, or their immediate family, have benefited from the training and finance offers.