Contributions
1,459 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUkrainian RefugeesThere is a slightly different position for those who are already in the UK. The hon. Gentleman made a point earlier about people who are fearful of being asked to leave, and I…14 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian RefugeesThat is a good point. Some funding is being offered to local communities. I take on board the point made by the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) about the slightly…14 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian RefugeesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. I thank the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell) for opening the debate, and colleagues for…14 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian RefugeesMight I be helpful? I appreciate that the hon. Lady would not have heard this statement before coming into Westminster Hall, but it has just been announced in the main Chamber…14 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsAs I have already outlined, we are making quite a number of changes. We met officials this morning to push further ones through and we have extended the entitlements and who can…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI certainly would not dismiss the support that is being provided by the Polish, Hungarian, Romanian and Moldovan authorities. They are doing an amazing job of welcoming those who…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsCertainly, in terms of the situation on the ground in Kharkiv, we have to be very careful about how we take President Putin’s offers of humanitarian corridors, not least because…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI would say to Oleg that, first, we have extended the scheme to include nieces, and if they are his nieces and he wishes them to come to the United Kingdom, they will be able to…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI thank my right hon. Friend for her question. I would make the point that people do not need to wait in Ukraine if they are thinking of applying for the humanitarian family visa…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsIt is a fair point and I am certainly happy to hear my hon. Friend’s feedback and what his constituents have encountered in more depth after the urgent question. As I say, more…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsAs we say, we have been surging staff into the region. We do not want to see people having to travel all the way to western Europe to make applications, having left their country…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThis is probably one I may wish to take away and look at, in respect of the rules around the EU settlement scheme, particularly if this lady was here with pre-settled status…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsAs I have outlined, there are clear reasons why we are doing this and we do believe it is right. Basic security checks are made for people arriving in the UK and this is not just…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsAs I say, we are certainly keen to look at the position in respect of biometrics for under-18s. That would make a significant difference, particularly for family applications.…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsCertainly, no one should be being advised now to go into Ukraine to get visas or for any other purpose. I am very happy to pick up the case to see what has happened in this…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI do not want to get into political point-scoring on this particular issue. It is neither seemly nor appropriate to do so. In terms of the routes, as we say, we place our first…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThe hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the fact that Ukraine provided a safe haven for people leaving Afghanistan. It is not just one community living in Ukraine; like our own…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsAs I touched on partly in my reference to the system that was used for British nationals overseas, we are looking at what role could be played by previously submitted biometrics…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThe Home Secretary had a positive visit and our relationship with the ambassadors and the community has been strong, given the broad range of support we are providing to Ukraine.…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI hear my hon. Friend’s point. As he said, we are bringing in more decision makers—people from UK Visas and Immigration who are experienced in decision making—to ensure that, as…08 Mar 2022