AQW 22371/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 14/09/2021
Answered On Date: 05/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) for an update on how many refugees have been located to NI through the (a) MOD ARAP scheme; and (b) the Foreign Office Special Cases Scheme; and (ii) how many refugees the Home Office has proposed will be located to NI through the Resettlement Scheme.

Answer:

We have been distressed by the harrowing scenes from Afghanistan.

Just as for the Syrian Refugees, we want to play our part in responding to this humanitarian crisis and the Executive united in a commitment to do so at its meeting on 6 September.

We have written to the Prime Minister formally committing to resettle 3% of citizens under both the ‘Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy’ (ARAP) and the ‘Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme’ (ACRS). We have not been asked to receive any citizens under the Foreign Office Special Cases Scheme.

This means we will welcome 840 vulnerable citizens to make their home here, with some 360 arrivals anticipated over the course of the next year. The Strategic Planning Group is working to make preparations to support arrivals as soon as possible.