Government Support for Ukrainians

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

I congratulate the hon. Member on securing tonight’s debate. Last month, I had the great honour and privilege of meeting the Ukrainian families who have made their home in my constituency. It now is their home, and they are so very welcome. I had a personal private conversation with each and every one of them individually, and everyone said to me that they so desperately need stability and security, which the current bespoke Ukraine permission extension scheme does not provide, because 18 months is too short, particularly for young students progressing from secondary school in Scotland to university. Does he agree with me that the Government must urgently review the short-term nature of their stay?

[Martin Wrigley]

I thank the hon. Member for his intervention and will be moving on to that shortly.

I have been impressed by the way that the Ukrainians do not sit back, but get up and get working. In many cases, they have taken jobs way below their qualifications while they learn the language, settle in and find their way. Their children have integrated into schools and set out on paths to GCSE, A-level and degree courses. Despite the fact that they do not have the confidence that they will have a visa that covers the duration of those courses, they are still working hard at them.

I have one guest who is a fully qualified Ukrainian dentist—and we need dentists, especially in Devon. He has done the first part of verifying his qualification for the UK, but it has taken many months and cost £600. However, to become a fully qualified dentist, he needs to spend £4,300 and more time, and the waiting time alone may make that futile, given the short time left on his visa. Another bright young student has started a dentistry qualification at Plymouth University, but she asked me if she would be allowed to stay to finish it. Another family wanted to get a mortgage to buy a house, but they cannot given the time left on their visas. They are brave, inventive and industrious people, and we need to help them by extending their visa scheme.