Support for Ukraine 2022-03-08

2022-03-08

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
The UK has been providing various forms of support to Ukraine, including humanitarian aid and military assistance. The question arises in the context of the ongoing Russian invasion.
What steps her Department is taking to support Ukraine?
The UK has been at the forefront of diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and defensive support to Ukraine. The UK was the first European country to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, and my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary is convening a group of countries to do more of that. We are the largest bilateral donor of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including with our largest ever UK Aid Match contribution to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, which has now raised more than £100 million.
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Q2 Partial Answer
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The Russian forces are targeting civilians, schools and hospitals in Ukraine. In Syria, the White Helmets provided vital search and rescue services with UK Government support.
In Syria, the UK supported the White Helmets who saved thousands of lives and documented atrocities. Will the Foreign Secretary commit to supporting a similar organisation in Ukraine?
What is happening in Ukraine is simply abhorrent. Our current priority is supporting Ukraine through humanitarian aid. We are donating £220 million of humanitarian aid, which is the leading figure in the world. That will be used to save lives and protect vulnerable people. However, I will listen to my hon. Friend's suggestion and see what we can do on that front, because we need to do all we can to address this horrendous humanitarian crisis.
Assessment & feedback
The Foreign Secretary did not commit to supporting a similar organisation in Ukraine but noted she would listen to the suggestion.
Will Listen To My Hon. Friend'S Suggestion
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Q3 Direct Answer
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The UK has introduced sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that we may need to go further and that nothing should be off the table in terms of who or what we target?
My hon. Friend is right: nothing is off the table. We have been and are working with G7 partners, whom we want to see go further in areas such as a complete ban on SWIFT and the complete freezing of all bank assets, and by committing to a timetable for reducing dependency on oil and gas because, fundamentally, Russia is a state propped up by the oil and gas industry and, to really tackle the funding for Putin's war machine, we need to cut off that funding stream.
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Q4 Direct Answer
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to significant humanitarian crises.
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that while the violence is ongoing we will do all we can to offer humanitarian support in the best interests of the Ukrainian people?
We have deployed humanitarian teams to neighbouring countries—Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova—and they are working closely with local agencies. We have put a record sum into the DEC appeal, which is generating massive donations from the British public. It is important that, rather than donate goods, the public are encouraged to donate cash to the DEC appeal or other trusted charities and aid organisations. The Polish Government have said that donations in kind generate disproportionate amounts of additional work and costs, which prove ineffective and counterproductive to the needs of those affected, so I strongly encourage people to donate financially to the DEC appeal. That is the best way to get funding through to the brave aid workers on the frontline.
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Q5 Direct Answer
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There are images of very sick children having to evacuate from hospitals due to bombardment.
What medical support are we providing to Ukraine and neighbouring countries so that those little lambs have a chance?
The United Kingdom is the No. 1 donor of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, with £220 million, and we are doing more than any other country on medical support, with the sixth flight of medical supplies having gone out to Ukraine last night. I assure my hon. Friend that Foreign Office teams and Ministry of Defence teams are actively supporting efforts to get very ill children out of Ukraine so that they can get the medical support they need.
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Q6 Direct Answer
Robbie Moore Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Context
The situation in Ukraine is deteriorating rapidly.
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the substantial funding the Government have put in place will deliver vital support to aid agencies as they respond to this distressing deteriorating situation?
We can all see how terrible the situation is, with 2 million people fleeing Ukraine. As I have outlined, we are providing humanitarian assistance. We are providing Ukrainians with access to basic necessities and vital medical supplies, as people are forced to flee their homes. We will continue to work with our friends and allies throughout Europe to deliver as much as we can to those in need.
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Q7 Direct Answer
Catherine McKinnell Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne North
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There is concern about the ability to prevent stolen money from Russian citizens being hidden in London.
The Foreign Secretary knows that a vital way to help Ukraine is to prevent those who have stolen money from the Russian people from hiding it in our capital city, but after years of austerity, our hollowed-out enforcement agencies simply do not have the resources to go toe to toe with billionaire oligarchs. The world's other major financial centre, New York, does not have the same problem and takes a much more robust and well-resourced approach to the tackling of illicit finances.
We have established a cross-Government taskforce to enforce the laws that we are putting in place on oligarchs. It is important to know that the legislation that we passed yesterday will reduce the amount of bureaucracy required to sanction oligarchs. That will help us to target our resources better across Government, so that we can focus more of our efforts on enforcement.
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Q8 Direct Answer
Tim Farron Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Context
The question arose from discussions with Ukrainian friends who have family in both Kyiv and Crimea, highlighting the disparity between how truth is shared in different parts of Ukraine.
My Ukrainian friends in Kendal have family in Kyiv and Crimea. In Kyiv, they know what's happening, but in Crimea, people are fed only Putin's version of events. Does the Minister agree that helping Russians understand the truth about the war is crucial? The BBC Russian website visits tripled last week, reaching 10 million users. How can we ensure this information reaches all 150 million Russians?
The BBC is important in communicating with Russian audiences, given years of disinformation. We are working with social media companies and established a cross-Government unit for direct communication in Russian. Sanctions send messages through queues and restricted services, aiding our message that the war is fought in Russians' name.
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Q9 Direct Answer
Hilary Benn Lab
Leeds South
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The question is prompted by the need to collect and preserve evidence of war crimes for the International Criminal Court's investigation.
Regarding the ICC referral, what measures are being taken to assist in collecting and preserving forensic evidence, especially as towns may be captured?
We work closely with allies on evidence collection. The Justice Secretary is visiting The Hague to discuss this further and praised British journalists for their work in collecting evidence.
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Q10 Partial Answer
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The question arises from the need to address Ukraine's significant national debt, which could hinder its ability to respond to Russian aggression.
Considering Ukraine's crippling national debt of $94 billion in 2020, can you discuss any conversations with other Governments and international bodies about cancelling this debt?
The Chancellor has discussed debt cancellation with G7 Finance Ministers. We support Ukraine financially to resist Russian aggression and rebuild post-invasion.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete actions or commitments beyond discussions
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Q11 Partial Answer
Alison McGovern Lab
Birkenhead
Context
The question stems from concerns over administrative failures in handling Syrian refugees, which are seen as affecting the current response to Ukrainian refugees.
With historical administrative failures in refugee responses, has the Minister considered how Home Office inefficiencies impact Foreign Office objectives in aiding Ukraine?
We learned from past mistakes and are leading with sanctions, support for Ukrainian resistance. The Home Secretary opened new visa centres, a family route, and a sponsored humanitarian route.
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Did not directly address the inadequacies of the Home Office or their impact on Foreign Office goals
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Q12 Partial Answer
Catherine West Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Context
The question highlights the disparity between Poland's acceptance of Ukrainian refugees and the UK's limited intake, raising concerns about humanitarian effort.
On International Women's Day, while Poland has taken 1 million refugees and Ireland several hundred thousand, barely 100 have found refuge here. Does the Minister see this as a stain on our otherwise commendable efforts? Will she urgently work with the Home Secretary to improve refugee intake?
New visa centres, 24/7 helpline, and a surgery for MPs are available. We lead in humanitarian aid with £220 million and help local settlements.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific ask to improve refugee intake
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Q13 Partial Answer
Chris Law SNP
Dundee Central
Context
The UK has granted only 300 visas to Ukrainian refugees, contrasting with other European countries welcoming hundreds of thousands. Ireland expects to welcome up to 100,000 refugees and has waived visa requirements.
On International Women's Day, Europe is leading and united in welcoming more than 2 million refugees, almost all women and children fleeing Ukraine. The UK stands at only 300 visas despite Ireland waiving visa requirements for up to 100,000 refugees. Does the Foreign Secretary realise that this undermines support for Ukraine? Will she call on the Home Secretary either to reverse policy or resign?
We have opened up two new routes: a family route and a sponsored humanitarian route. We are also providing huge support in the region, working closely with the Ukrainian Government and local Governments such as the Polish Government.
Assessment & feedback
The question specifically asked about reversing policy or resignation of the Home Secretary, but no commitment was made to either.
Providing Support In The Region Working With Other Governments
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