Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the requirement for refugees from Ukraine to obtain visas to enter the UK on the level of risk to women and children from human traffickers.

The Government has introduced two new schemes to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion: the Ukraine Family Scheme launched on 4 March, and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 14 March. These are the first of their kind to be operationalised anywhere in the world.

Since 15 March, Ukrainians with valid passports applying for either the Ukraine Family Scheme or Homes for Ukraine Scheme have not needed to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK

Instead, once their application has been considered and the appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification they are eligible for the scheme and can come to the UK. Individuals will still need to provide their biometrics once safely in the UK within six months of their arrival.

The Government’s approach to visas for Ukrainians fleering the Russian invasion is based on the latest security advice and risk assessments. We have also built protections for vulnerable individuals into the design of the Schemes, for example requiring sponsors under Homes for Ukraine to undertake appropriate security and safeguarding checks. These checks help identify potentially concerning placements and allow us to intervene to protect women and children for the risk of human trafficking or other forms of exploitation