8. What steps is the Minister taking to provide adequate support for Ukrainian refugees? OQ59174

Welsh Government continues to work in partnership with local authorities and the third sector in welcoming Ukrainian people to Wales, helping them move on into longer term accommodation and continue to be supported. As part of our draft 2023-24 budget, we are investing £40 million in our Ukrainian humanitarian response.

Thank you, Minister. You'll be aware that, only recently, we brought forward in this Chamber a Welsh Conservative debate on Ukraine, and I had to raise then that Ukrainian refugees who have to leave their sponsor homes have been told that welcome centres are not an option for safe accommodation. In cases such as Swansea, refugees have been forced to leave a particular hotel and left with nowhere to go after being told they were ineligible for social housing. Local authorities are advising Ukrainians to look at the private rental market, but some landlords are now appearing reluctant to take on refugee tenants due to concerns over stability of future earnings. We cannot allow refugees from Ukraine to be forgotten about and become homeless for a second time. Minister, if Wales really is to be a nation of sanctuary, what discussions are you having with local authorities and the Ministers for Climate Change and housing to prevent these horrendous situations occurring? Those people have trusted Wales and its people to come here and feel supported, so it's important that we find safe and stable accommodation for them. Thank you.

Thank you very much for that question. Can I make it absolutely clear that no-one, no Ukrainian guest, has been forced to leave a welcome centre? And they will not be. It is very important to recognise that we've welcomed in Wales—and we had a fantastic event on Monday morning where we had Ukrainians speaking about their views and their thoughts, marking that terrible anniversary, as we did last Friday, of Putin's invasion, where we recognised that Wales is a nation of sanctuary. And we've welcomed just over 6,400 Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and almost 3,400 have been sponsored by Welsh households, and many of the hosts came to that event on Monday; the Llywydd was there as well at the welcome. And we have sponsored over 3,000, the Welsh Government.

When we looked at this a year ago, the horrors of the invasion, we said that we thought we could, through our supersponsor scheme, support 1,000, but, actually, we've supported 3,000. We also have more with visas, and if they come, we will support them and we will get them into temporary initial accommodation, which are our Welsh welcome centres. So, no-one has been moved out of a welcome centre, no-one is going to be made homeless from that initial temporary accommodation. Indeed, what is good news is that 1,300 of those that the Welsh Government have sponsored have moved into longer term accommodation, and more than 800 have settled in Wales.

Minister, I really welcome the support that has been given by Welsh Government and local authorities and local communities, indeed, and voluntary organisations to all of our Ukrainian friends. It's a gift that we receive in providing hospitality, not a burden that we assume. My own two lovely guests—indeed, our friend—who fled the conflict from eastern Ukraine and, in doing so, helped in taking many young children to safety in Poland now live with us and enjoy life here in Wales, whilst also working, paying tax and learning.

Minister, would you agree with me that we need to extend a welcome and sanctuary to all people who flee terror and persecution? Would you also agree with me that the language that we use is very important, recognising people as people, individuals and families, not 'them' and 'us', not 'migrants', and that compassion and tolerance are universal, not selective? This extends also to those in the Traveller community who have been historically persecuted and vilified. Our words are important, including in this Siambr, as are those of Pastor Martin Niemöller in his work that begins, 'First they came for'. We should remember them, including in this Siambr. Travellers' rights are not part of some 'woke agenda', Llywydd; they are not. They are not 'them' and 'us'; they are us. [Members of the Senedd: Hear, hear.]

Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr, Huw Irranca-Davies. I think you speak, certainly, for the majority of us and, hopefully, all of us here in this Chamber.

Thank you to the Minister. I've received some complaints about the language used by one Member, who has now left the Chamber, during his questions earlier on. I've been reminded by Huw Irranca-Davies of the exhibition that is upstairs at this moment, talking of those who sought refuge from Nazism in the last century. Our code of conduct here demands that we do not use discriminatory language, and, therefore, we cannot discriminate amongst who we welcome and who we don't welcome. I consider that Gareth Davies's comments this afternoon broke that code of conduct. I will expect him to apologise to me and to Members here who complained to me that his language was discriminatory, and will expect that apology, and I'm sure I shall receive it.