4. Will the Minister outline how Wales is fulfilling its duties to those fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine? OQ57947

Thank you, Altaf Hussain. I provided an oral statement yesterday to update Senedd Members on our approach to supporting Ukrainian sanctuary seekers. We're continuing to demonstrate our nation of sanctuary vision as a supersponsor by putting in place support and urging improvements to UK Government processes.

Thank you, Minister. Minister, Wales, along with the rest of the UK, is showing once again that we are a country that welcomes those fleeing conflict. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, in addition to appalling war crimes that have been committed by the Russian state, have displaced millions of people who are in need of a home. Wales is right to welcome as many as we can. So, would the Minister now confirm how many people we are hoping to help and what provision we have made to house and support those who will soon be in our care? Thank you, Minister.

Thank you very much. I made clear in my statement yesterday the statistics that were published formally by the four nations, with the UK Government and Scottish Government, last Thursday, and they will be updated tomorrow. There were 2,300 visas issued where the sponsor was from Wales as of last Thursday, 1,650 sponsored by individuals, and 670 sponsored by the Welsh Government as a supersponsor. We've already said—I think it was in my very opening statement—that we are ready to welcome in our welcome centres. We have welcome centres ready and open, giving refuge to Ukrainian refugees. I also thank all those households who are sponsoring through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. There are also many others who have come through the families scheme, and as I said yesterday, unfortunately the Home Office can give us no information about how many, who they are, in terms of families with UK links, but we know they got here first in terms of getting visas. There is no funding for support for people in those schemes, and, indeed, there's a lot of pressure on our local authorities, but they're willing and able and are stepping up to reach and support all those Ukrainian refugees that are joining us here in Wales. But, the delays are unacceptable; the lack of funding has to be addressed by the UK Government.

Minister, I want to thank you again for your updates on this matter and your commitment to helping the sponsors who have been so stressed and anxious to ensure that their guests arrive here safely, as well as Welsh Government's commitment to ensuring that Wales is a nation of sanctuary. The UK Government Homes for Ukraine scheme has established a system that puts responsibility on everyone else other than those in Westminster. Sponsors in Bridgend have told me that they have felt abandoned after signing up to the UK Government scheme. A local charity, the Bridgend mentoring scheme and community centre the Zone are aiming to co-ordinate a drop-in cafe so that Ukrainian guests and local sponsors can come together and access services and support. But, third sector organisations and community support groups need the funding to provide this service. So, Minister, what considerations have been given to ensuring that third sector and community groups are supported to successfully run these services? 

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.