Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Deferred
Department estimates resettling up to 27,278 individuals due to Afghan data breach.
Conclusion
At the end of July 2025, the Department estimated that it would resettle 7,355 people through the ARR scheme as a direct result of the February 2022 data breach. This included 1,531 ‘principals’ (initial applicants) 6 C&AG’s Report, para 8 7 C&AG’s Report, para 22 8 C&AG’s Report, paras 9, 10, 17 9 C&AG’s Report para 9, Q 1 10 Letter from the Treasury Officer of Accounts, 26 August 2025 8 and their family members.11 A further estimated 16,108 people who were affected by the data breach were eligible to be resettled through the ARAP scheme because they or a family member worked with the UK government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles.12 The Department is also reviewing some rejected applications from people in the Afghanistan special forces, and it estimated that these applications could result in a total of up to 27,278 people affected by the data breach being resettled in the UK.13
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation but then provides a response entirely focused on measures to tackle illegal meat imports, including stepping up communications, developing a strategic approach with Dover Port Health Authority, and considering increased funding for them.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. government response to the recent EFRA Select Committee report ‘Britain’s illegal meat crisis’. Biosecurity at the border: Britain's illegal meat crisis: Government Response The department has noted calls to do more to educate travellers about the consequences of bringing illegal food products into the United Kingdom. In recent months, it has worked with travel operators and other government departments to step up communications informing travellers of the restrictions on personal imports of food products, including via GOV.UK, posters and social media channels. This includes the reasons for the restrictions and the consequences of non-compliance. The department’s communications team conducts regular surveys to assess awareness of its public communications. The department is focussing on developing its relationship with Dover Port Health Authority and establishing a revised strategic approach to the issue of illegal meat imports via the Short Straits. As part of this, the department will draw on the expertise of the operational staff at Dover to better understand the seizure data. The department is now actively considering increases to the funding for Dover Port Health Authority to improve operational coverage to tackle illegal meat imports. Funding decisions will take account of preventing the costs of major disease outbreaks. Border Force is funded by the Home Office. APHA sought views and opinions from relevant experts in 2025, to improve estimates of illegal meat imports. It aims to publish details of the new methodology in early 2026 with data analysis to follow at the end of 2026.