Refugees from Ukraine

Condemns Putin’s atrocities in Ukraine, supports Government's work on sanctions and self-defence of Ukraine. Criticises Home Office for slow response to refugee crisis, urging immediate waiver of visa requirements to match European neighbours.

Fully supports the motion condemning Russian actions in Ukraine and advocating a humanitarian response for refugees from other war-torn countries as well.

Acknowledges distress of constituents like Valentyna who face frustrations with visa applications while trying to bring family members to safety.

Questions the Minister about when the application system will allow applications in Ukrainian, as promised previously.

Supports a compassionate response to refugees from Ukraine, highlighting cultural barriers and Home Office bureaucracy.

Questions the lead MP on security concerns regarding no checks at all for Ukrainian refugees.

References Lord Peter Ricketts' views advocating a more humane approach without requiring visas, questioning Government's stance.

Discussed the Ukraine family scheme which went live on March 4, noting that there were already over 20,000 applications submitted resulting in 5,500 visas issued. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to simplify processes and ensure appropriate safeguarding measures for children.

Asked about the timescale for completing all applications that have not yet been processed, showing concern over the speed of the process.

Expressed frustration with the cumbersome visa application process and highlighted a specific example from his constituency where a family faced difficulties in arriving. He urged for quicker measures to facilitate refugee entry.

Questioned why only 5,500 visas have been issued given the large number of refugees fleeing Ukraine and asked if security checks could be conducted after people are safely in the UK.

Asked what steps were being taken to support bordering countries with humanitarian aid for unaccompanied children.

Inquired whether the Government would consider providing onward travel funding for Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK, as other EU nations have done.

Asked if there will be a package of support for local authorities to provide necessary back-up services such as educational and mental health support for refugees.

Asked about the requirements in terms of room availability under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, specifically if one room would suffice for a GP looking to sponsor a woman and her 12-year-old child.

Asked how someone in Glasgow could host a refugee they know and what the process is for facilitating such arrangements.

Asked about the specifics of the matching process for refugees to be sponsored by individuals or organisations in the UK.

Questioned why visa-free access was not an option and what specific risk it posed, given that similar checks are done for people from countries without visa requirements.

Inquired about the security rationale behind requiring biometric information before travel rather than upon arrival in the UK.

Asked if the UK was receiving different security advice compared to other European countries or if it was risking its people's safety by not implementing similar measures.

Praised President Zelensky’s leadership and courage. Criticised the Government for failing to plan ahead, resulting in U-turns on visa policies and a lack of effective response to the crisis. Described the process Ukrainians face as “hell” and “humiliating”. Advocated for an emergency visa scheme with biometric checks conducted in the UK. Highlighted the need for a pairing system to connect sponsors with refugees.

Asked why the Department responsible for housing is not overseeing the provision of accommodation for vulnerable individuals fleeing Ukraine, questioning whether this could be seen as an odd distribution of responsibility.

Expressed confusion regarding the Minister's comments about housing responsibilities and referenced previous unsuitable accommodations provided by the Home Secretary for refugees, such as Penally camp in Pembrokeshire.

Suggested that the SNP motion criticises the Government constructively but warned against Labour's remarks becoming too party political. Advised caution to avoid overly divisive rhetoric during such a sensitive time.

Highlighted concerns about the fundamental flaw in the Homes for Ukraine scheme, specifically regarding the considerable bureaucracy and waiting times associated with visa applications.

Agreed with much of what Stephen Kinnock said but questioned whether Labour’s position is clear on waiving visa requirements entirely. Emphasised the need to resolve waiting times and bureaucracy in the scheme.

Asked about the implications if someone fails security checks after being admitted into the UK through an emergency visa process, questioning potential deportation or handling procedures for those who fail such checks.

Thanked his hon. Friend and expressed disagreement with the shadow Minister's tone regarding Ukraine support. Praises the Prime Minister for leadership in Europe, highlighting UK's military and humanitarian contributions to Ukraine and bordering countries. Stressed the importance of protecting refugees from human trafficking, particularly in Moldova, urging the Government to provide more resources there.

Intervened to point out that over 150 colleagues are in Committee Room 14 listening to and engaging with Ukrainian MPs who have praised UK's support for their country, contrasting this with the perception of underrepresentation on the Government Benches.

Intervened to reassure Peter Bone about the law enforcement agencies' close examination of human trafficking issues and their coordination through Europol.

Suggested that UK should allocate some foreign development budget towards tackling human trafficking, highlighting its significance in relation to the crisis.

Asked whether local councils creating lists of people with accommodation would better handle refugee integration and support, emphasising the need for localized solutions.

The UK stands united in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, with constituents willing to offer accommodation and resources. However, the current number of refugees in the UK is only 5,500, which seems small compared to other European countries like Germany (147,000) and Poland (1.8 million). The speaker questions if security concerns are being used as a smokescreen for slowing down refugee intake and calls on the Government to do more to match public enthusiasm.

Responded to Pete Wishart's intervention by explaining that for Ukrainian children to be moved unaccompanied from Poland requires consent from both Polish and Ukrainian authorities, which has not been given. He noted that the Ukrainian Government must consent before such moves can occur.

The UK has a proud record of welcoming refugees with two uncapped schemes allowing people to come for three years with access to benefits, education, welfare support, and training. Between 2015 and 2020, the UK resettled 24,700 refugees, which is more than any other European country except Sweden (20,900). Merriman criticises those who denigrate this system as it discourages potential refugees from coming to the UK. He thanks Home Office officials for their hard work and emphasises the need to scrutinise policy without using insults or rhetoric. He questions how the sponsorship system will operate, who will check sponsor suitability, and what role local authorities will play in assessing sponsors and funding this programme.

Welsh Plaid Cymru member highlights the importance of supporting Ukrainian refugees and criticises the Home Office system for being designed to keep people out. She mentions a constituent waiting in Warsaw for a visa, raising concerns about disabled individuals fleeing Ukraine who require specific aid. Fellows calls on Ministers to expedite responses regarding super-sponsorship requests from Scotland and Wales, urging them to waive visas as other countries have done.

Correcting inaccuracies in the speech of the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle; the UK's per capita share of refugees is in the middle of the European table, not at the top.

Defended his statements on refugee resettlement numbers as accurate according to BBC Reality Check.

Called for the debate to remain polite despite disagreements, noting that debates are about disagreement and not a matter for the Chair.

Emphasised the need for practical actions to support refugees from Ukraine, highlighting the disparity between Ireland's response and that of the UK. She praised Wales’s previous efforts in supporting Afghan refugees through Urdd Gobaith Cymru and called for more detail and pathways for refugee resettlement. Liz also mentioned Plaid Cymru councils' above-average resettlement rates compared to the UK as a whole, and questioned how support networks would operate beyond London and the south-east. She urged the Government to work closely with Wales on implementing effective sponsorship schemes.

Mr Thomson commended the UK Government for military aid and humanitarian response but criticised the Home Office for delays in visa applications, which he argued caused unnecessary suffering to refugees. He cited examples of constituents facing difficulties due to bureaucratic obstacles. He challenged the Prime Minister's claim that the UK had done more than any other European country since 2015, highlighting a significant contrast with EU guidelines on temporary protection directives. Mr Thomson proposed supporting Scottish and Welsh Government super sponsor bids to speed up the process and suggested waiving visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees.

The UK is not doing nothing to help Ukrainian refugees, but the Government’s response has been chaotic and inadequate. The Home Office's frequent changes in rules have made it difficult for people seeking refuge and for those trying to assist them. Anne McLaughlin emphasises that the Government must understand their legal and moral duty towards refugees. She criticises the Nationality and Borders Bill as an example of a lack of desire or belief by the Government to protect refugees. The Homes for Ukraine scheme, while positive, has issues with safeguarding and needs better support systems in place. McLaughlin also questions why Ukrainians are treated differently from other nationalities allowed to enter without visas. She calls for fairer comparisons between European countries’ responses and highlights that many European nations are more welcoming than the UK regarding Ukrainian refugees. The UK's response is currently 17th among European countries per capita, which McLaughlin finds unacceptable given the severity of the crisis.

Proud of the UK's efforts in aiding Ukraine, mentioning £400 million emergency aid provided to Ukraine and support through military means. Also highlighted the deployment of 1,000 troops on standby.

Responded to Eddie Hughes by pointing out that the UK's actions towards Ukraine should be seen as a positive step beyond merely 'not doing nothing'.

Asked for and received permission from Eddie Hughes to speak, adding additional good news about the expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe.

Made a point of order highlighting that the lack of attendance in the Chamber was due to MPs attending a meeting with Ukrainian MPs elsewhere in the Palace, emphasising the importance of public awareness about this activity.

Acknowledged Peter Bone's point of order and clarified that while there were few attendees during the debate on Ukrainian refugees due to another important meeting, many colleagues had attended a fruitful session with visiting Ukrainian MPs.