Contributions
1,459 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI am concerned about that example. We will continue to look to increase biometric capacity. As I said, we are actively considering removing the need for biometric testing for…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI thank the hon. Gentleman for that example. We are conscious that people are leaving without the normal proof they might have of family relationships. It would clearly be…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsEnsuring the safety and security of our country is never a ridiculous demand. As we have already touched on, we will be opening up a centre in Lille, and we have certainly already…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsWe look forward to hearing the President later, and we reflect on how he has inspired his people in resisting the invasion, including with the arms we have supplied. We are, as we…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI recognise my hon. Friend’s concern. The vast majority of councils in this country, including my own, took part in the Afghan resettlement scheme, and many are already offering…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThose kind offers will certainly not be wasted. We are moving at pace to set up our system and to increase the numbers while doing the basic security checks to keep our people…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThe hon. Lady will realise that it would not be appropriate for me to go into the detail of individual cases on the Floor of the House, but I am very happy to speak to her…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI would point to the sponsorship system that will be set up, which will be open pretty much to many and all Ukrainians, although I remind the House that the vast majority of…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his points. We are surging staff into our visa applications centres; I am conscious of the fact that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThe hon. Lady makes some strong points. One of the reasons we are working closely with the countries bordering Ukraine is that, given the end of direct travel, it is extremely…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsI thank my right hon. Friend for his thoughtful question. We have 50 in training today, and we are bringing the whole of UK Visas and Immigration’s quite significant resource to…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 ApplicationsThose who are applying are actually in safe countries as we speak. As I have said, there is no requirement for people to stay in Ukraine to make an application if they can safely…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 ApplicationsI am happy to look at the particular example that the hon. Gentleman has cited, but we are surging staff and resource and we are conscious of the position there and of how we can…08 Mar 2022HANSARDUkraine: Urgent Refugee ApplicationsThe Government will be happy to update Members on Thursday on what is happening, whether through a “Dear colleague” letter or another appropriate forum. We intend that it will be…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 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 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