Iraq interpreters 'can get help'

Gordon Brown announced in October that they and other locally-employed staff who risked their lives serving British forces for at least a year could apply to come to live in Britain.

The Times said that of the 200 interpreters who had done so, more than half had been refused exceptional leave to remain.

It said four were told their cases were rejected because their employment had been "terminated for absence" meaning they did not meet the strict criteria.

But one of those concerned told the newspaper he had been advised by British military and intelligence officers to stay at home until he felt safe from death threats he had received.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that a total of 400 applications had been received but would not confirm how many had been turned down.

She said: "Although we cannot discuss individual cases, we have a very clear policy that staff who terminated employment as a result of intimidation are eligible for assistance.

"We fully recognise the difficulties of such staff and do not insist on official or formal notification or on staff working out their notice period. Individuals who are recorded as having let us know by telephone or any other manner are still considered eligible.

"Decisions are taken based on records taken at the time but where individuals who feel they have further evidence to support their case for assistance they should notify us immediately."

Under the scheme, eligible staff can apply for a one-off lump sum of up to 12 months' salary or exceptional leave to enter the UK outside the immigration rules or a refugee resettlement package in the UK for those who have been forced to flee Iraq.