UK Defence Ministry Criticized for ‘Indefensible’ Silence on Afghan Refugee Resettlement
Andrew Davies, a Conservative Member of Parliament from South Wales, has sharply criticized the UK Ministry of Defence for its lack of transparency regarding the resettlement of Afghan refugees, calling the department’s silence “indefensible.”
Davies said that in October this year, his office formally requested detailed information from the Ministry of Defence about how facilities such as the Holiday Inn Express in the city of Rhoose were being used to house migrants. He also asked for data related to public safety and crime rates in those areas.
However, after repeated follow-ups went unanswered, a formal complaint was submitted to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO declined to accept the complaint, citing that the individual who filed it was not the same person who had originally submitted the request for information.
Davies described the commission’s decision as “unusual” and warned that such actions could severely undermine public trust in the transparency of government institutions.
His statement comes amid a Sky News investigation revealing that some applicants for resettlement have provided exaggerated or false information about their cooperation with British forces.
Davies has urged the Information Commissioner to immediately review the decision and to release accurate, verifiable statistics and details about the Afghan refugee resettlement process. He argued this transparency is essential for enabling oversight and ensuring accountability.
