Scotland pauses sponsor scheme for Ukrainian refugees

This is stated in the statement of the Scottish government, The Guardian informs.

Pausing the scheme would “ensure that displaced people who are already here (in Scotland. – Ed), and those who will arrive in the coming months, will be safe and supported for as long as they need, after the dangers they have faced at home”.

It is noted that 4,666 Ukrainians have already been accepted in Scotland under the sponsor scheme that provides housing. Another 18,000 citizens of Ukraine submitted applications.

The government explains that if such rates of arrival of Ukrainians continue, the local authorities may have to resort to urgent accommodation. According to the government, the emergency placement does not match the “warm Scottish welcome” they sought to offer.

The Scottish Government has called on the UK Government to abolish all visa requirements. Under the scheme, people applying for a UK visa can choose the Scottish Government as their sponsor. Only once the UK Home Office approves the application, the refugee can travel to Scotland.

As of July 5, government figures show that visa applications listing Scotland as a sponsor were up 21% from the previous week, with visas issued up 27% and arrivals under the sponsor scheme up to 20%.

The Scottish Government has provided additional accommodation in hotels and university campuses, and recently chartered a passenger ship to provide additional temporary housing with 739 rooms for six months starting in July.

Neil Grey, the Scottish minister responsible for Ukrainian refugees, said the temporary pause in visa issuance was to “provide the welcome people from Ukraine deserve”.

Photo: Open sources