Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Safe and Legal Routes to UK: Nationals of Ukraine and Afghanistan

Monday 25 April 2022 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Home Secretary stated that the Government's approach to safe and legal routes for immigration is outlined in the new immigration plan.
  • The Home Secretary acknowledged that more than 71,000 visas have been granted for Ukrainian visa schemes.
  • Holly Lynch noted that less than half of 1% of Ukrainians fleeing have found shelter in the UK, highlighting the comparison with Ireland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Philippa Whitford SNP
Immigration Ukraine
Context

The question arises from the need to address safe passage for individuals fleeing conflict zones. The MP raises concerns about the number of Ukrainians seeking refuge and the comparably limited efforts for Afghans.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of safe and legal routes to the UK for nationals of (a) Ukraine and (b) Afghanistan. Members from throughout the House have called on the Government to make it easier for people from Ukraine to seek sanctuary in the UK. Will the Home Secretary explain why the schemes for those who try to flee the Taliban are so limited and why, according to her own Department, the Nationality and Borders Bill does not establish safe and legal routes for those fleeing war, conflict or persecution?

Answer from Priti Patel

First, the new plan for immigration spells out absolutely the Government's approach to safe and legal routes. As I have said many times in the House, every safe and legal route needs to be bespoke, based on the crisis that we are seeking to address. Secondly, in response to the hon. Lady's question about Afghanistan, she will know that under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme we will welcome up to 20,000 at-risk people who have been affected by the most appalling events in Afghanistan. That scheme was announced last year and will include women and girls and members of minority groups, given their vulnerability.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for an explanation on why Afghan refugees face more limited safe passage options compared to Ukrainians, but the answer did not directly address this comparison. Instead, it restated that each route is bespoke and referenced a specific scheme for Afghanistan.

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Q2 Philippa Whitford SNP
Immigration Ukraine
Context

A family in Ukraine, sponsored by individuals in Halifax, has reported difficulties due to delays in visa processing. The scheme is criticised for its inefficiencies.

Question

A family who are still in Ukraine have been reporting back to their Homes for Ukraine sponsors in Halifax that they have been able to hear the bombs getting closer every day of their 29-days-and-counting wait for a visa. The family in Ukraine have twins under the age of 10 who have, remarkably, had their visas processed at different speeds. A Home Office whistleblower has described the scheme as “designed to fail”. Government figures show that 40,000 visas have been issued under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, yet just 6,600 Ukrainians have actually arrived in the UK, because families who need to travel together cannot do so because the visa of just one family member, often a child, is delayed. Will the Home Secretary explain why, if 40,000 visas have been issued, so few Ukrainians have arrived in the UK? What is she doing to correct the situation?

Answer from Priti Patel

I thank the hon. Lady for her question because she makes an important point. There are a number of points to make in response. First, on the reason why low numbers have come to the UK, as I have already said, more than 71,000 visas for both schemes have been granted. The Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, went to the region just 10 days ago to find out why and what more could be done to bring over families who have been granted their visas to come over. First of all, those families want to stay in region. That is a fact and that is exactly why we are working with the various Governments in region. The hon. Lady made an important point about families and younger children. Much of that is down to the checks, because they are not always travelling with parents. Safeguarding checks are being undertaken to ensure that they are all linked members of families.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked why there was a discrepancy between visas issued and arrivals in the UK, but the answer did not provide specific reasons or address this issue directly. It instead focused on regional preferences and safeguarding checks.

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Q3 Holly Lynch Lab
Immigration Ukraine
Context

There is a significant disparity in the number of Ukrainians seeking refuge compared to other countries, with Ireland accommodating more despite being smaller. The MP argues that this situation arises from stringent visa policies.

Question

Less than half of 1% of Ukrainians fleeing Putin's war have so far found shelter in the United Kingdom. There are currently more sheltered in Ireland than are sheltered here, despite our neighbours being 13 times smaller in terms of population. The real reason for this situation is the unnecessary, inappropriate and shambolic visa system that the Home Secretary has decided to impose. Approximately 140 other countries allow visa-free access. Surely, even at this late stage, the Home Secretary must lift visa requirements for all, or at least some, Ukrainians fleeing Putin's war and get things moving.

Answer from Priti Patel

I have repeated many times the reason why we have checks and visas. I appreciate the political difference between the Government and the hon. Gentleman's party, but we are not members of the EU; we do not have open borders. I acknowledge that he has a fundamentally different point of view when it comes to open borders and not having checks on those who come to our country but, in this case, security checks are vital.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for the lifting of visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees, but the answer did not directly address this request. Instead, it reiterated the need for security checks and distinguished between the government's stance on open borders compared to the opposition party's view.

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