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Afghan interpreters' UK resettlement package 'completely inadequate' Afghan interpreters' UK resettlement package 'completely inadequate'
(4 months later)
Defence officials said Tuesday that up to 3,000 Afghans, including families, are expected to resettle in Britain as part of a £60m package of measures to help interpreters who provided vital support to British forces.Defence officials said Tuesday that up to 3,000 Afghans, including families, are expected to resettle in Britain as part of a £60m package of measures to help interpreters who provided vital support to British forces.
The package, detailed by the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, will offer support for 1,200 interpreters, with around half – those judged to be particularly at risk because they were engaged in frontline operations – given the chance to settle in Britain. But the package was immediately attacked for being inadequate and for excluding many who had received death threats.The package, detailed by the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, will offer support for 1,200 interpreters, with around half – those judged to be particularly at risk because they were engaged in frontline operations – given the chance to settle in Britain. But the package was immediately attacked for being inadequate and for excluding many who had received death threats.
The offer will be limited to local staff who were working directly for Britain on 19 December 2012, when the prime minister announced the drawdown of UK forces, and who had served more than 12 months. Those whose employment ended before this date, and those whose employment was ended voluntarily or for disciplinary reasons will not be eligible.The offer will be limited to local staff who were working directly for Britain on 19 December 2012, when the prime minister announced the drawdown of UK forces, and who had served more than 12 months. Those whose employment ended before this date, and those whose employment was ended voluntarily or for disciplinary reasons will not be eligible.
The package was sharply attacked on Tuesday as being insufficient and arbitrary.The package was sharply attacked on Tuesday as being insufficient and arbitrary.
Rosa Curling from law firm Leigh Day & Co representing some of the Afghans, described the package as "completely inadequate". She added: "The Taliban do not determine who to target by their commencement or redundancy dates. Under this scheme Afghan locally employed staff still get a much worse deal than their Iraqi counterparts, simply because of their nationality".Rosa Curling from law firm Leigh Day & Co representing some of the Afghans, described the package as "completely inadequate". She added: "The Taliban do not determine who to target by their commencement or redundancy dates. Under this scheme Afghan locally employed staff still get a much worse deal than their Iraqi counterparts, simply because of their nationality".
Curling continued: "Many brave men and their families will remain in grave danger until the Government finally does the right thing and treats them like their colleagues in Iraq."Curling continued: "Many brave men and their families will remain in grave danger until the Government finally does the right thing and treats them like their colleagues in Iraq."
After the Iraq war, Iraqi interpreters were given one-off financial assistance or exceptional indefinite leave to remain in Britain.After the Iraq war, Iraqi interpreters were given one-off financial assistance or exceptional indefinite leave to remain in Britain.
The Avaaz group, which has been championing the interpreters' cause, said the plans would leave hundreds of translators at risk.The Avaaz group, which has been championing the interpreters' cause, said the plans would leave hundreds of translators at risk.
Campaign director Alex Wilks said: "This deal may sound great in London, but could be lethal in Kabul.Campaign director Alex Wilks said: "This deal may sound great in London, but could be lethal in Kabul.
The former Conservative front bencher, David Davis said: "Quite frankly, the offer to resettle just 600 Afghan interpreters is a disgrace. To impose an arbitrary time frame on which interpreters can seek safety in Britain is both inappropriate and cruel", he said.The former Conservative front bencher, David Davis said: "Quite frankly, the offer to resettle just 600 Afghan interpreters is a disgrace. To impose an arbitrary time frame on which interpreters can seek safety in Britain is both inappropriate and cruel", he said.
In what Hammond described as a "generous" package, the defence secretary told MPs in a written statement that "local staff" will be offered up to five years of training or education in Afghanistan, in a subject of their own choosing, with a "living stipend" based on their final salary.In what Hammond described as a "generous" package, the defence secretary told MPs in a written statement that "local staff" will be offered up to five years of training or education in Afghanistan, in a subject of their own choosing, with a "living stipend" based on their final salary.
Staff who prefer not to take up the training package, will be offered a second option – a financial severance payment representing 18 months salary. This will be paid in monthly instalments.Staff who prefer not to take up the training package, will be offered a second option – a financial severance payment representing 18 months salary. This will be paid in monthly instalments.
"These options aim to encourage local staff to develop valuable skills and knowledge in Afghanistan so they can go on contributing to a brighter future for themselves, their families and their country", Hammond said."These options aim to encourage local staff to develop valuable skills and knowledge in Afghanistan so they can go on contributing to a brighter future for themselves, their families and their country", Hammond said.
In what he said was in recognition of "particularly dangerous and challenging roles" in Helmand and "unique and exceptional service to the United Kingdom" some local staff and their immediate families will be offered a third option – resettlement in the UK.In what he said was in recognition of "particularly dangerous and challenging roles" in Helmand and "unique and exceptional service to the United Kingdom" some local staff and their immediate families will be offered a third option – resettlement in the UK.
To help them adjust to life in the UK, they will be offered initial assistance and accommodation including access to benefits, as well as support in seeking employment, Hammond told MPs.To help them adjust to life in the UK, they will be offered initial assistance and accommodation including access to benefits, as well as support in seeking employment, Hammond told MPs.
This third option – for which some 600 intepreters are eligible under the scheme – will be available to those who "routinely worked in dangerous and challenging roles in Helmand outside protected bases", Hammond said. "Seriously injured staff, who might have qualified had their employment not been terminated due to injuries sustained in combat, are also included".This third option – for which some 600 intepreters are eligible under the scheme – will be available to those who "routinely worked in dangerous and challenging roles in Helmand outside protected bases", Hammond said. "Seriously injured staff, who might have qualified had their employment not been terminated due to injuries sustained in combat, are also included".
The government estimates that the cost of settling 600 Afghan interpreters and their families will be in the order of £33m. The cost of training and educating the remainder of the 1,200 in Afghanistan is estimated at about £27m.The government estimates that the cost of settling 600 Afghan interpreters and their families will be in the order of £33m. The cost of training and educating the remainder of the 1,200 in Afghanistan is estimated at about £27m.
Separate from the redundancy package, Hammond said "existing intimidation policy" would remain in place for all local staff, regardless of their date and duration of employment. He said that would ensure local staff who faced "real threats" to their own and their families' safety, now and in the future, would be supported. They would be offered relocation within Afghanistan and, "in the most extreme cases", the possibility of resettlement in the UK.Separate from the redundancy package, Hammond said "existing intimidation policy" would remain in place for all local staff, regardless of their date and duration of employment. He said that would ensure local staff who faced "real threats" to their own and their families' safety, now and in the future, would be supported. They would be offered relocation within Afghanistan and, "in the most extreme cases", the possibility of resettlement in the UK.
The package of measures follows deep concern expressed by former military figures – and the threat of legal action by some of the Afghans affected – about the British government's apparent reluctance to offer any of them the right to resettle in the UK.The package of measures follows deep concern expressed by former military figures – and the threat of legal action by some of the Afghans affected – about the British government's apparent reluctance to offer any of them the right to resettle in the UK.
The government had argued that allowing them to leave Afghanistan would give the wrong signal and suggest it had no confidence in the stability of the country once foreign troops leave at the end of 2014.The government had argued that allowing them to leave Afghanistan would give the wrong signal and suggest it had no confidence in the stability of the country once foreign troops leave at the end of 2014.
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