Contributions
280 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI promise the noble Lord that I will engage in that process—in the two weeks that I have been in the job, I have not done so. It is something that we must do.28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI could not really dispute the rationale of what the noble Lord said last; I do not think we can compare oligarchs who are not allowed here to refugees who are. We want to…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeIt should not be my job always to agree with the questions that are asked but, in this case, I totally believe in the sentiment that the right reverend Prelate expressed. I am…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeWe will publish the answer to that question very soon, I promise.28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI thank my noble friend for that question. I was not aware of the letter and I look forward to receiving it from him personally, because it might be quicker than via the system,…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI cannot comment to the noble Lord about the security services, except to say that I have not seen the advice that they have given to the Prime Minister. However, my instructions…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeThe answer to the question on the babies is that children under five do not have passports or visas. The reason why there still have to be visits to visa application centres is…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI shall write to my noble friend with the answer to that question because I am not party to that information.28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI agree with much of the sentiment of what the noble Baroness said. As far as the visa process is concerned, the only purpose is to provide security checks for this country. As I…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI thank the noble Baroness for the Question. I can confirm that more than 20,000 applications have been received for the Homes for Ukraine scheme and we will be providing further…28 Mar 2022HANSARDHomes for Ukraine SchemeI ask the noble Lord to give me the details of that person—that is unacceptable and there is no visa centre to my knowledge that would say, “We don’t do it on Mondays, we do it on…28 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasI thank the noble Lord for his kind words but I think my political prospects diminished several years ago. I am doing this job, as the noble Lord knows, because I was involved…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasI cannot give my noble friend that undertaking because I am not sure, but I will know within minutes of sitting down what the answer is. We have certainly ensured that there are…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasI share the noble Baroness’s concern about this. We are in regular touch with the authorities and the aid agencies on the ground. Predominantly, the Government’s policy is to fund…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasI can confirm that checks are being carried out as we speak on sponsors before refugees arrive in their homes, and that local authorities will be carrying out further checks in…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasUkrainians on visitor visas can now have them extended automatically—since the war broke out, obviously, they cannot safely return to Ukraine. They will be extended for six…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasMy Lords, I will just clarify the situation. The six months to which my noble friend refers is the six months of the sponsorship scheme. That is the minimum period for which…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasI thank the noble Lord for his question. We have done quite a lot of work on orphans in the countries around Ukraine. The problem is that the policy of the Ukrainian Government,…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasThe noble Lord has made me speechless about the prospects for Watford football club, but I reluctantly accept that he is quite correct. On the substance of his question about…22 Mar 2022HANSARDUkrainian Nationals: Visitor VisasI can assure the noble Lord absolutely that that is the case.22 Mar 2022