Scots vow to sign up for Homes for Ukraine scheme
- Published
More than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine for Poland
Scots who plan to sign up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme said they have been moved to act out of compassion for the refugees fleeing the conflict.
Housing and Communities Secretary Michael Gove said the UK had a history of "supporting the most vulnerable during their darkest hours".
But some who want to offer shelter have criticised visa requirements.
Scottish ministers want the need for Ukrainians to obtain visas to be waived.
The proposal for Scotland and Wales to become super sponsors, announced on Sunday, would see refugees coming to the two countries faster.
Announcing the Homes for Ukraine scheme in the Commons, Mr Gove said there would be no limit to the number of Ukrainian refugees who can be hosted in the UK under the new visa scheme.
Each household hosting a refugee will be paid £350 a month, tax free.
And people who wish to offer a rent-free space in their home to a Ukrainian refugee, for at least six months, can now register their interest, external.
Dennis Grattan, from Aberdeen, has been moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February
Dennis Grattan, from Aberdeen, told BBC Scotland he is willing to welcome refugees into his home.
The part-time factor said it was a matter of trust and compassion.
Asked how difficult a decision it was, he said: "I had to think about how difficult a decision it was in terms of giving up my own privacy.
"On balance the compassion side really overwhelmed me because we really need to do something for these people.
"It is a dreadful thing they are going through."
Mr Grattan believes integrating refugees into the community is a better solution than accommodating them in hostels or hotels.
He added: "It is just unbelievable that this is happening in Europe in 2022."
There is no sign of any end to the war in Ukraine, now in its 18th day
Joanne Watson, from Doune, near Stirling, has set up a Facebook group to help refugees and is also willing to give shelter to a family.
She told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime: "As a mum and a parent of two children I just can't imagine what those mums and dads are going through and what the kids are going through."
But Ms Watson added she finds it "incredibly frustrating" that the UK government has put a visa scheme in place.
She said: "We should be opening our arms to these people. I think it is a national embarrassment that we are not doing so."
Gary Christie, head of policy at the Scottish Refugee Council, also said Ukrainians fleeing the conflict should be simply granted protection rather than have to apply for visa.
Dr Maria Jemicz criticised the need for Ukrainians refugees to have visas before they can seek refuge in the UK
Dr Maria Jemicz, who is part of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, described the scheme as "seat-of-the-pants" thinking.
She also said the companies who have pledged to give jobs to refugees have possibly overlooked the fact that they will be mainly women and children.
Dr Jemicz added: "Who is going to look after their children while these women are working over here?
"There is lots of difficult questions like that."
She praised the response of other European nations to the crisis, including Ireland.
Dr Jemicz said: "They are just taking in people first and then they are sorting out the paperwork.
"These women and children are not a security risk."
The website went live as Mr Gove addressed MPs in the Commons and it later emerged 1,500 people had signed up in the first hour.
Those who sign up will be able to individually sponsor a Ukrainian national or resident's visa from Friday.
Initial applications will rely on the applicant knowing an individual from Ukraine they want to help.
But Ukrainian refugees with no family or other links to the UK can and will be hosted as part of the scheme, Mr Gove said.
Mr Gove said the sponsorship scheme is initially only going to be between people who are already known to each other - but this was to get it "up and running as soon as possible".
He also said "we are doing everything we can" to facilitate Scotland and Wales acting as "super sponsors".
Michael Gove sets out how British sponsors can take in refuges in the Homes for Ukraine scheme
The Scottish government's Minister for Refugees from Ukraine, Neil Gray, said the UK Government should waive all visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals.
He said there was concern that the sponsorship scheme would be slow and cumbersome and lack proper support and safeguarding.
"By acting as 'super sponsor' rather than waiting for the UK government's matching process, we can provide safety and sanctuary to people immediately and welcome significant numbers of refugees from Ukraine to Scotland," he added.
Mr Gray said this would include providing temporary accommodation and wrap-around support while longer-term arrangements are put in place.
He said the Scottish government was waiting for a detailed response to its proposals from the UK government.
Mr Gove said: "I was grateful to first ministers of Scotland and Wales for their generous offer to act as super sponsors, and we are doing everything we can in order to facilitate that."
He said his officials are working with those devolved administrations "in order to ensure that we can do so in a way that enables everyone to live up to their responsibilities".
It comes after the government has so far faced criticism - including from its own MPs - over the speed and scale of its response to the refugee crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Disasters Emergency Committee Scotland confirmed more than £16m has been raised in Scotland for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, external in just ten days.
It added 13 of the DEC's 15 members were now delivering essential supplies, healthcare and counselling to those who have fled their homes.
Across the UK the appeal has raised £170m.
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