UK Govt issue fewer than 2% of their promised Afghan Resettlement Visas

As reported by the Refugee Council (3rd August), only 54 people have been granted the Afghan resettlement visa after UK Government promised 5000 successful visas.

This is a shameful dereliction of duty, Find below my motion to the Scottish Parliament.

Motion Number: S6M-10139

Lodged By: Michael Marra

Date Lodged: 14/08/2023

Title: Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme

Motion Text: That the Parliament understands with regret that, to date, only 54 Afghan refugees have been resettled in the UK under the UK Government’s Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; notes that this number falls well below the UK Government’s reported promise to resettle 5,000 Afghan refugees under the scheme; understands that the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme was established in 2022 for those who worked with the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan and for vulnerable groups; notes recently published figures that reportedly show that over 8,000 Afghans arrived in the UK on small boats in the last year; considers this statistic to be an indictment of the UK Government’s failure to implement a functioning Resettlement Scheme; recognises the significant contribution of Afghans to the work of the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan, and urges the UK Government to urgently improve the Resettlement Scheme so that many more Afghans may safely resettle in the UK.