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GUIDELINES
By Deborah Haynes
The Government’s policy for helping interpreters and others in Iraq who worked
for Britain has undoubtedly saved lives, but a failure to make the scheme more
responsive to individual cases has left scores without assistance. It also sets a
worrying precedent for interpreters working for the British in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister introduced the initiative only after The Times highlighted the
plight of interpreters in 2007. The majority of about 20,000 Iraqis who worked
for the British in Iraq over the past six years were labourers who experienced
minimal risk. The number of additional people who would benefit if the rules
were relaxed is thus not huge, probably a few dozen at most, and their families.
Most do not want to move to Britain as Basra becomes calm. They simply want
compensation for the pain and trauma they have suffered.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "The Locally Engaged Staff
Assistance Scheme is for people with a substantial employment relationship
with the British Government. This is defined as working in a professional and
public role alongside us for a year or more. Those who have worked for shorter
periods are not eligible. We think this is reasonable". Both the Foreign Office
and the Home Office said that there were no plans to review its policy.
Hundreds were rejected and received nothing. All appeals must be heard by
June 30. A decision has yet to be made on how long to keep the scheme open
for Iraqis still working for the British mission as it winds down.
STUDENT’S NAME:_________________________________________________________ rrrn
The British scheme has shown that all interpreters have benefited
A
from this new policy.
The British Government did not propose the scheme on its own
D
initiative.
Now that the conditions are not so strict, many people will benefit from
E
the assistance policy
The majority of the Iraqis who work for the British are keen on
F
beginning new lives in Britain.
Although assistance has been largely denied, some cases are still
J
under consideration.