Ukrainian Refugees

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:17 pm on 23 March 2022.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Isherwood Mark Isherwood Conservative 3:17, 23 March 2022

I thank the Minister for ringing me on Monday on the train to brief me on this, and I also note the update issued by the Welsh Government this morning, which states that they continue to work closely with local authorities, the NHS, other public services and the third sector to ensure support is available for people fleeing the conflict and arriving in Wales through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

As you say, the Welsh Government will become a supersponsor under this scheme. On 13 March, the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland sent a joint letter to the UK Government proposing the Welsh and Scottish Governments as the overall supersponsors for the schemes in Wales and Scotland. However, although the UK Government launched the Homes for Ukraine portal on 18 March, whereby an organisation could be selected as a sponsor, when the option is selected, the only listed organisation still is the Scottish Government. Although you've stated that the Welsh Government will also be able to sponsor people directly and people arriving via this route will be directed to one of the welcome centres being set up across Wales before going on to medium and long-term accommodation, why does the Welsh Government still not appear as a sponsor option on the Homes for Ukraine portal, and can the Minister outline if and when people will be able to select the Welsh Government as a sponsor option on this?

Further, what support can you provide to people like the Flintshire constituent whose wife went to Poland to bring back her Ukrainian mum—thankfully successfully, and she's now in Flintshire—but who has been told that they can't access the cash card for refugees because of a lack of information and funds, that the £350 rehome scheme doesn't apply to his mum-in-law, that she can't access pension credits until she has a full visa, which will take two months, and that she can't register with their GP, despite having health issues? I fully appreciate some of those are reserved matters for the UK Government and some are the responsibility of the Welsh Government, but given your overall role as a supersponsor, I'd be grateful for your response.