The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Social Justice – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 4 May 2022.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 1:58, 4 May 2022

Can I thank Sarah Murphy again for the way in which she has engaged and supported those families and households in her constituency who have, again, reached out and welcomed and supported Ukrainian refugees? There are some inspiring stories that have come through from your constituents. We also have, through our nation of sanctuary website, guidance for sponsors, we've got guidance for local authorities. Also, I'm meeting regularly, and I'm meeting again next week, with the Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, and Neil Gray, the Minister, my colleague, from the Scottish Government. The three issues we raise with them are delays in the visas, safeguarding, but also funding. I've already commented on the lack of funding that's coming through. There's less funding coming through the Ukrainian scheme than indeed came through with the Afghan resettlement scheme. There's no funding for health service support, no funding for ESOL support, no funding for the families scheme. And also, in terms of the supersponsor route, as I said, we know that this is a way in which people can come straight, without the risk of being exposed not just to complexity and bureaucracy but also safeguarding issues, to our welcome centres. Can I just say that there are strong third sector links already with the community foundation, which has established a new Croeso fund? One million pounds has come from the Welsh Government, and they're going to support a third sector organisation seeking to integrate any sanctuary seeker in Wales. So, I will share that again in terms of contact with the community foundation nation of sanctuary new fund.