With the anniversary of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine next Saturday approaching, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today questioned the Welsh Government over the support it is providing to Ukrainian refugees in Wales.
Responding to today’s Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip ‘Anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Nation of Sanctuary update’, Mr Isherwood, who Shadows the Minister and has previously called for more to be done to ensure Ukrainian Refugees in Wales do not end up homeless, again put forward his proposal of modular housing and asked what, if any, progress has been made on this front.
He said:
“Questioning you here last June, I noted that responding to your previous Statements on both Ukraine and the Nation of Sanctuary, I had repeatedly raised the issue of housing, and proposed modular housing as part of the solution, as across the water in Ireland.
“You had previously referred to the need to remove our Ukrainian guests into longer term accommodation, some of which is modular accommodation developed across Wales. So, what, if any, specific allocation is being provided for refugees?”
Given that almost 90,000 households in Wales are on Social Housing waiting list at present, Mr Isherwood asked the Minister “how many properties have now been funded through the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme, how many of these have been allocated for Ukrainian or other refugees, and how many additional homes, including new builds and new modular housing, have been delivered to meet the needs of Ukrainian and other refugees in Wales?”
He also asked the Minister whether Wales is “taking its fair share” of Ukrainians, where England houses 16 asylum seekers for every 10,000 people but Wales takes just 9, and asked how they are being helped to learn English.
He said:
“When I last visited Mold Jobcentre Plus, I learned about the great work they were doing supporting Ukrainians keen to work and contribute. In this context, can you provide an update on English for speakers of other languages courses - ESOL - and on the transferability of their qualifications to Wales?”
Mr Isherwood also questioned the Minister over the Wales Free Bus Travel Scheme for refugees ‘Welcome Ticket’, which commenced on 26th March 2022 and will continue until 31st March 2024.
He said:
“I e-mailed you at the weekend on behalf of constituents hosting their second family from Ukraine, where the driver on the bus service through their village, provided by Townlynx, based in Holywell, had told them that he would take their Ukrainian guests this time, but that they ‘wouldn't be allowed on again’.
“How did the Welsh Government therefore commission the Free Bus Travel Scheme for refugees and what action can or will you take in such circumstances?”
Mr Isherwood referred to the changes resulting from the UK Government having announced an 18-month visa extension scheme for Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK following Russia’s illegal invasion, meaning that they will now be able to stay in the UK until September 2026, and asked how these will impact Wales.
He said:
“Those who are in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be eligible to apply for the extension within the last three months of an existing visa.
“Although the Ukraine Family Scheme is being closed, Ukrainian Nationals who would have qualified under this will still be able to apply to Homes for Ukraine and families settled here can still sponsor a family member to come to the UK under Homes for Ukraine.
“How will these changes therefore impact on Welsh Government planning and what action are you taking to meet this extended need, both at Welsh Government level and through engagement with the UK Government?”