Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:56 pm on 27 September 2022.
Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. This is about our nation of sanctuary; how we work together, as we always have, to support those who are fleeing, as you say, the obscenity of war, the terror. I recall, right from the word go, Putin's aggression. We talked about Putin; we think also of the Russians who now are threatened and leaving Russia themselves. The human cost of war is where we step in to help and open the door.
I think it is very important to say that we're working flat out, and have all over the summer, with our housing authorities and, indeed, RSLs and the third sector, to support not only the initial welcome—. If you recall, way back, we said we thought we could take perhaps 1,000 in our supersponsor scheme; we've now got 2,700. Our welcome centres are all full to capacity and, of course, some have had to move on to the other functions that they play. But, of course, working with them, it's about how we move arrivals to longer term accommodation. But, of course, our accommodation is under significant pressure. It's not possible for everyone. Some who are moving on are going to new hosting arrangements. We're arranging matches to vetted hosts across Wales. And actually, there are thousands of Welsh households who are now in the process of being vetted to become hosts to those currently living in accommodation. You will see that we have been making an appeal to encourage people to come forward, because, actually, there has been a huge benefit and positive response from hosts.
But we've got to back them up with funding. That's why I thank you for supporting our call to address—. It is inadequate, the £350; it's got to be increased. And, of course, we would want those households to claim every benefit—the fuel support scheme, et cetera—that they are entitled to, because that will help with those. But it is important that we do not in Wales get into the position where we have homeless Ukrainian families as a result of this scheme. So, there are very imaginative programmes—going on to new hosts, extending hosting arrangements now, going on to new hosts from our welcome centres—but also this transitional accommodation that I described, the £65 million for transitional accommodation. And that includes a whole range of issues like repurposing empty buildings. Local authorities are really coming up with a whole range of ways in which we can support people, perhaps, from a welcome centre, or a host family, into that intermediate accommodation, and then on to other longer term accommodation.
It's very difficult in the private rented sector in terms of the rents. We have asked—. Again, this is unfinished business in terms of the UK Government—seriously unfinished business—in terms of us needing support, and an increase in the local housing allowance and discretionary housing payments, to enable people to be moved in and supported into private rented accommodation. So, we're working very hard with our housing authorities as well.
I'll just, perhaps, clarify that in terms of the transport announcement, we've been working hard to get this announcement for today, so it is news today, and I can assure you that we will get the eligibility criteria out as quickly as possible to ensure that Transport for Wales and bus companies across Wales, which did operate the free public transport—that we actually learn from the pilot and improve on it. We intend to extend the current scheme and minimise confusion or misinterpretation of eligibility. Just to clarify and put on the record: this is for all refugees and people on humanitarian visas in Wales; it includes anyone granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or a humanitarian visa. It is crucial that we get that message out; it will all be clearly communicated, and we will take that point about the transport providers, in terms of their websites, et cetera.
I want to just also comment on your point about access to education and higher education. This is particularly important in terms of the opportunities for the young people coming here. When we also hear from the UK Government, we'll be able to give you more clarity in terms of options, finance, et cetera. We've written to the Home Secretary, as you know, and the Secretary of State, and I'll share what we've said to them. But, universities are keen to offer refuge to academics and students, and we are working with Universities UK as well as Universities Wales. But, also, I have to say that Ukrainian students are maintaining relationships with their host institutions in Ukraine and are continuing to access online learning, but there are issues in terms of financial difficulties; that's why we've written to the UK Government in terms of student support and access to universal credit.
We've got the Council for At-Risk Academics and universities of sanctuary all over Wales, and certainly, we met the vice-chancellor of Wrexham Glyndŵr University, which is one example of tremendous support, when I was in Wrexham on Friday. There are twinning initiatives with Universities UK International, but also, we're very keen to look to further education as well; we've confirmed revised entry criteria for many schemes, including apprenticeship schemes. Diolch.