Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ukraine: Impact on Students

Monday 14 March 2022 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is working to support Ukrainian students in the UK by introducing a new humanitarian route.
  • Ukrainians on temporary visas can bring family members under the Home Office's Ukraine families scheme.
  • Plans are in place to facilitate the integration of up to 100,000 vulnerable Ukrainian child refugees into the UK education system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steven Bonnar
Ukraine
Context

The MP is concerned about the effects of the Russian invasion on education for both Ukrainian students in the UK and UK students in Ukraine.

Question

What recent discussions has the government had with Cabinet colleagues regarding the impact of the Russian invasion on (a) Ukrainian students in the UK and (b) UK students in Ukraine?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

We are working across Government to support Ukrainian students in the United Kingdom by introducing a new humanitarian route; there will be a statement later today from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on that. It will provide them with an opportunity to extend their leave to remain or switch to graduate visas. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is leading on work to ensure that UK students in Ukraine are encouraged to return.

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Q2 Deidre Brock SNP
Ukraine
Context

The MP is concerned about the inclusion of family members of Ukrainian students who are temporary visa holders.

Question

Will the Secretary of State include the families of those students, who are temporary visa holders, in the Home Office's Ukraine families scheme? Will he consult his ministerial colleagues on that?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

Those Ukrainians who are here on temporary visas will also be able to bring family members.

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Q3 Steven Bonnar
Education Ukraine
Context

The MP is concerned about the integration of vulnerable Ukrainian child refugees into the UK education system.

Question

What plans has the Secretary of State put in place to facilitate the integration of vulnerable Ukrainian child refugees into the UK education system?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

We have been working hard in the Department to ensure that we have, certainly in the initial phase, a capacity of up to 100,000 children going into early years, primary and secondary education, and into further and higher education as well.

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Q4 Robert Halfon Con
Education Ukraine
Context

The MP raises concerns about anti-Ukraine propaganda at some of the UK's leading universities.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend contact these universities directly to stop them acting as useful idiots for President Putin's atrocities in Ukraine?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

I am grateful to the Chair of the Education Committee for raising this issue. The Minister for Higher and Further Education is already on the case and is contacting those universities. Putin and his cronies are a malign influence on anyone in this country buying their false narrative. I repeat: it is a false and dangerous narrative and we will crack down on it hard.

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Q5 Roger Gale Con Herne Bay and Sandwich
Ukraine Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about providing immediate educational support for young Ukrainian refugees.

Question

Could my right hon. Friend see whether he can build in some flexibility and normality so that these young people can get into schools and make friends as soon as possible?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. I know that he and his family are passionate about wanting to support Ukrainians who are so vulnerable. We are making plans to make sure, as we did with the Afghan resettlement, that every child gets into the appropriate early years, primary, secondary or further or higher education, but I will certainly look at this. I think what he is getting at is that if there is a gap they may be wanting to feel welcome at their schools. I am already getting anecdotal stories about many schools where there is excitement about some of the Ukrainian children who are coming in.

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Q6 Carol Monaghan SNP
Ukraine
Context

The MP raises concerns about supporting language and education for young Ukrainians in Ireland where they are fast-tracking Ukrainian teachers.

Question

Has the Secretary of State considered replicating that Irish scheme to ensure that young people coming to school in the UK will be properly supported?

Answer from Nadhim Zahawi

The hon. Lady raises a really important point. That is one of the things I asked my team this morning with regard to the Ukrainians. Clearly, it will be predominantly women and children who are coming over because the men are fighting the Russian invaders. It is a question of whether we can get more recognition of qualifications so that Ukrainians who are able to can get work as soon as possible.

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