Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the levels of risks to Ukrainian refugees, including risks of sexual exploitation, from informal online matching processes under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Ukrainian guests arriving under Homes for Ukraine are supported by a robust programme of safeguards, and they are working.

The approach to safeguarding under Homes for Ukraine is based on a balance of risk between the need to get Ukrainians into the country quickly and protecting their safety once they have arrived. All sponsors and all adults living in a sponsor’s household are subject to stringent checks before the applicant is allowed to travel to the UK. The issuance of a visa is contingent on the outcome of these checks. Councils conduct safeguarding checks as a second layer of safeguarding.

The Department is alert to the risk that malign individuals may use the scheme to exploit beneficiaries. It keeps safeguarding risk understand constant review.

Many successful matches have been made through social media, which has provided a fast and effective way for prospective guests to find a suitable sponsor under Homes for Ukraine. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme recommends taking precautions when matching online and these are published at gov.uk here.