Migration Safe and Legal Routes
2026-06-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The community sponsorship scheme has been offering safe homes to refugees, raising expectations for an extension of the programme.
What steps her Department is taking to introduce new safe and legal routes for migrants. In recent years, families across Cornwall have been offering safe and welcoming homes to Syrian and Afghan refugees through the community sponsorship scheme. Without using the words “dreckly”, “mañana” or “in due course”, can the Minister specify when the community sponsorship scheme will be extended, as promised?
The Government committed to new safe and legal routes in the “Restoring Order and Control” statement, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that the student refugee route will open this autumn, with arrivals in autumn 2027. We are working with partners to design new routes to ensure they are safe and controlled, but no specific timeline is provided for extending the community sponsorship scheme.
▸
Assessment & feedback
No specific timeline was given for extending the community sponsorship scheme.
In Due Course
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The community sponsorship scheme has been offering safe homes to refugees, raising expectations for an extension of the programme.
In recent years, families across Cornwall have been offering safe and welcoming homes to Syrian and Afghan refugees through the community sponsorship scheme. Without using the words “dreckly”, “mañana” or “in due course”, can the Minister specify when the community sponsorship scheme will be extended, as promised?
We are working with stakeholders on what that looks like but getting this right is crucial to the programme's success. Further details will be set out in due course.
▸
Assessment & feedback
No specific timeline or commitment was provided for extending the community sponsorship scheme.
In Due Course
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Dr Alasttal in the constituency faces an issue where his wife, being in Gaza, cannot join him due to travel restrictions.
Dr Alasttal in my constituency is doing vital medical work. In normal circumstances, his wife would be allowed to visit him on the appropriate visa, but because she is in Gaza and would have to travel to Israel or to other cities to give biometric information, she cannot visit or join him here. Will the Government change the rules in the way they did for Chevening scholars, so that people in Gaza can give biometric details in other ways?
I cannot speak to that individual case but I recognise the challenges where no visa centres are open in areas of conflict. We have taken what I think is a quite pragmatic and flexible approach, not just with students but medical evacuations as well. If the hon. Gentleman is able to write me and the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, we will look at that case accordingly.
▸
Assessment & feedback
No commitment was made to change visa rules or provide a general solution.
Response accuracy