Ffoaduriaid o Afghanistan

4 April 2022

Dear

ATISN 16141: Afghan Refugees

Thank you for your request received on 8 March 2022. You asked:

Part 1

• Can the Welsh Government provide a breakdown of the total number of Afghan refugees that have sought sanctuary in Wales in 2021? Can the Welsh Government also provide a breakdown of the number that are still living in temporary accommodation?

Part 2

• Can the Welsh Government provide the total number of Afghan children that have been brought to Wales in 2021? Can the Welsh Government provide the number that have not been allocated a school?

Part 3

• Can the Welsh Government provide the number of Afghan refugees that have not been allocated a GP?

Our response

In response to part 1,  the Home Office holds up-to-date information on the number of Afghan arrivals who have come to the UK under various resettlement schemes or who have been given refugee status. The Welsh Government does not hold the data requested for Wales in its entirety. We understand that between 200 to 250 Afghan citizens have arrived in Wales in 2021. We do not hold data on breakdown of the number that are still living in temporary accommodation.

The Home Office may therefore be able to provide an answer to your request. You can find further information on their website or submit a request to foirequests@homeoffice.gov.uk . The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics on asylum and resettlement which can be found on the following link: Asylum and resettlement datasets

In response to part 2, the Welsh Government does not hold data for Wales on the total number of Afghan children that have been brought to Wales in 2021. We do not hold information on the number that have not been allocated a school. I would again direct you to the Home Office who may be able to provide the information you have requested.

Local authorities across Wales may hold the information on children who have not been allocated a school. A list of local authorities can be found here Find your local authority | GOV.WALES

In response to part 3, the Welsh Government does not hold information on the number of Afghan refugees that have not been allocated a GP. Those in temporary/bridging accommodation will have access to a local health practice and those who are resettled directly to local authorities across Wales are registered with a GP as part of their resettlement.

Next steps

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response. Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at:

Information Rights Unit, 
Welsh Government,
Cathays Park, 
Cardiff, 
CF10 3NQ 
or Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales

Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office, 
Wycliffe House, 
Water Lane, 
Wilmslow, 
Cheshire, 
SK9 5AF

However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process.

Yours sincerely