Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme

That this House notes the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACSR) was announced on 18 August 2021; further notes that hon. Members are still receiving desperate messages for help and that Ministerial replies to queries make repeated reference to the scheme; is concerned that three months later the ACRS is still not open to applications and that vulnerable people seeking safety from the Taliban, and for whom the UK has a responsibility, are therefore not able to access it; is further concerned that the 5,000 cap on the number of people who can be helped by the scheme in the first year is insufficient and that there’s every likelihood those places will already be filled by, for example, people evacuated to the UK via Operation Pitting or who have crossed the border into refugee camps in neighbouring countries, with knock on implications for the Afghan national family members of our constituents; and calls on the Government to open the ACRS without any further delays and to significantly increase the number of people eligible, starting with bringing forward the overall 20,000 cap to the first year.