To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's policy that Afghans eligible for visas under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme must have secured accommodation in the UK secured before leaving Pakistan; and if she will make a statement.

The cost of accommodating those resetting under the ACRS or ARAP, whilst they await permanent accommodation, is estimated at £1 million a day. We don’t want to see Afghan families in temporary accommodation for any longer than is necessary – and we have been working as fast as possible to support Afghan families into homes of their own, so that they can settle into their local communities, feel safe and independent and rebuild their lives in the UK.

The Prime Minister’s statement on illegal migration on 13 December 2022 set out his ambition to end the use of hotels as temporary accommodation. We continue to work with partners to secure sufficient suitable accommodation for new arrivals.

We will also arrange travel for any beneficiaries under the ACRS or ARAP who can be supported to arrange their own accommodation in the UK ahead of arrival.

The Government is working with c.350 local authorities across the UK, to meet the demand for housing. Over 9,000 people have been supported into settled accommodation (This breaks down as c.8,500 moved into homes with an additional c.500 matched but not yet moved).