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Background

On 1 February 2024, the previous government announced the 鈥楾riples Review鈥� following the discovery of inconsistencies in how decisions on ARAP applications from members of the Triples were being made.聽Casework within the initial scope of the review has been completed with approximately 30% of those decisions now overturned.

Officials have continued to analyse and strengthen their understanding of the payment records that MOD hold relating to members of the Afghan Partner Forces (APF) as covered in Phase One. As a result, it has been concluded that more individuals, while not meeting the threshold for direct employment relationship, would meet the requirements for working alongside the UK. Further, it will mean that, in some cases, evidence of certain Top Up Payments will also be sufficient to demonstrate a substantive and positive contribution to the UK鈥檚 military or national security objectives in Afghanistan due to the nature of the work undertaken by those individuals. As such, these applications would be eligible under Category 4, condition 1 of ARAP and will now be reviewed for evidence against Category 4, conditions 2, 3 and / or 4. This includes some individuals who were in scope of the original Review, but also includes some applications outside of the scope of Phase One. This re-assessment of select cases is referred to as Phase Two.

Objectives

The objective of Phase Two is to ensure a review of every ineligible ARAP decision where the applicant worked for an APF and the Department either holds a payment record relating to the individual or has verification from His Majesties Government (HMG) that they served with a relevant APF. This focuses the review on applicants where HMG holds definitive and verifiable evidence proving they聽worked for an APF.

This Review will not change the criteria of ARAP. However, it will apply updated caseworker guidance on how caseworkers utilise payments as evidence of meeting condition 1 of Category 4, so that payments demonstrate the applicant worked alongside HMG. Officials will ensure this evidence is carefully considered and weighed up when considering how this evidence can help to demonstrate the extent of their contribution to UK objectives for Category 4 condition 2.

Scope of the review

The scope of the review will capture:

• Previously assessed ineligible cases from Phase One of the review where MOD holds evidence of Top Up Payment records relating to the individual or verification from HMG that they served with an APF to reach a conclusion as to whether eligibility is met against ARAP criteria in respect of updated guidance; and,

• Previously assessed ineligible cases from applicants originally outside of the scope of Phase One from individuals where MOD holds Top Up Payment records relating to the individual or verification from HMG that they served with an APF to reach a conclusion as to whether eligibility is met against ARAP criteria in respect of updated guidance.

Individuals who do not fall within the above scope of this review remain entitled to apply for a review of their eligibility decision within 90 days of receipt of their ineligible letter, save for where there are compelling circumstances which have prevented them from meeting this deadline, or to apply or re-apply to ARAP for as long as the scheme remains open.

Reviews and notification

Individuals will be contacted at the point where they have received an eligibility decision, including where the decision is that they remain ineligible. If an applicant requests a general case update from Defence Afghan Relocation and Resettlement, whether they are within scope of this review or not will be confirmed.

Applicants who are deemed ineligible and receive an outcome letter advising them of this may seek a review of the decision made within Phase Two within 90 days of the date of that letter, save for where there are compelling circumstances which have prevented them from meeting this deadline, as per usual ARAP Reviews processes and policies.

Accountability

As is usual for ARAP, all eligibility decisions are the responsibility of the MOD and the Minister of Armed Forces as delegated by the Secretary of State for Defence. All correspondence concerning the review will be handed by MOD, including public and media enquiries, parliamentary and urgent questions, as well as Freedom of Information Requests.

All individuals involved in case working will not have made an initial ARAP decision for any individual in scope of Phase Two.