MP: Contractors can now continue ACRS applications in safety
As Chair of the British Council All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), John Baron MP has been advocating on behalf of the roughly 200 British Council contractors still stuck in Afghanistan in fear of their lives. Since the fall of Kabul they have been in hiding from the Taliban, often moving from house to house to evade them, whilst the Government processes their applications to come to the UK under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). As a result of intense lobbying from the British Council APPG, which included meetings in No 10, the criteria for ACRS were recently updated to allow the contractors and their dependents to continue their applications from the safety of a third country.
John said,
“It is positive news that the British Council contractors can now continue their ACRS applications outside Afghanistan. This means they, and their dependents, can now leave Afghanistan (at their own risk) and move to the safety of a third country and await further processing of their applications there.”
“By setting out a path which can lead the contractors and their dependents out of danger, this development goes a long way to resolve the issue that has concerned the British Council APPG, and many others in Parliament, since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. The British Council is liaising with the FCDO and contractors accordingly.”
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister, Ministers and the No 10 and FCDO officials who have helped in the APPG’s campaign to help the contractors out of danger. It has taken longer than it should, but they are now in a much better position.”
Notes to Editors:
- The updated ACRS information is online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme-pathway-3-eligibility-for-british-council-and-gardaworld-contractors-and-chevening-alumni.
- Please see John’s previous press releases on this issue, online at: https://www.johnbaron.co.uk/news/john-baron-mp-continues-press-government-british-council-contractors; https://www.johnbaron.co.uk/news/john-baron-mp-appalled-fcdo-backtracking-over-british-council-contractors-afghanistan and https://www.johnbaron.co.uk/news/john-baron-mp-welcomes-ministers-clarifications-british-council-contractors.
