Wales won't scrap refugee policy, says minister

Anna McMorrin defended the Nation of Sanctuary policy

A UK government minister has rejected Conservative calls for the Welsh government to scrap its Nation of Sanctuary refugee and asylum seeker policy.

Immigration is not controlled by the Welsh government, but in recent years it has had policies to assist asylum seekers and refugees, which it has labelled the Nation of Sanctuary.

Speaking in the Commons, Rebecca Smith, a Conservative MP in England, said "tens of millions of pounds" had been spent on this "wasteful" policy.

However, Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin defended the policy, saying the majority of money had gone towards supporting Ukrainians fleeing war in their country.

The Labour-run Welsh government does not control immigration – those powers lie with the UK Labour government.

However, ministers in Cardiff Bay have been keen to assist some asylum seekers and refugees.

A statement from the Welsh government earlier this month said £55m had been spent on the "Nation of Sanctuary" policy between 2019 and 2025, less than 0.5% of the Welsh government's spending.

Of that, £45m - 82% - had been spent on Ukrainians between 2022 and 2024. The Welsh government had sponsored arriving refugees from early on in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A progress report from 2024 showed officials had helped refugees move on from asylum accommodation and to find work.

Calls to scrap the policy have been made in the Senedd – the Welsh Parliament – by both the Welsh Conservatives and Reform.

The issue was raised in the Commons on Wednesday at question time on Welsh issues by Smith, the Conservative MP for South West Devon.

She said: "Labour ministers, supported by Plaid Cymru, are ploughing tens of millions of pounds into its Nation of Sanctuary policy, which is believed to support services for some illegal immigrants".

"Isn't it high time her colleagues scrapped this wasteful, non-devolved policy and instead focussed of lowering NHS waiting times?"

Anna McMorrin, in her first appearance at the despatch box as a Wales Office minister, said: "It sounds like the member opposite doesn't agree with welcoming thousands of Ukrainian refugees" which the policy "largely supported".

She added the policy had been used "to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression".