Scotland has decided to put a three month pause on accepting asylum applications from Ukrainian refugees through the so- called ‘super sponsor scheme’ citing a lack of available accommodation.
The BBC reported that Scotland had agreed in March to accept 3,000 refugees, although 7,000 are reported to have arrived in the country so far, with “21,256 visas” having been issued ”to Ukrainians naming a Scottish sponsor”.
This number is reported to be “20% of the UK total” of applications from Ukrainians.
According to the Scottish Government, the ‘super sponsor scheme’ is “designed to help displaced people from Ukraine apply for visas by removing the need for applicants to be matched to a host prior to being given permission to travel to the UK.”
The Scotsman reported that, “The Welsh Government last month announced a pause to its own version of the scheme, while it works to “refine” arrangements for people arriving.”
Effectively the scheme, which is not available to those wishing to travel toEngland, allows refugees to enter a jurisdiction without first having suitable accommodation found for them to move into, much like the situation in Ireland.
It was reported that as of the 21st of June 135,900 Ukrainian visas have been issued in the UK, while as of 20th of June “82,100 visa holders” had arrived.
Scotland also announced plans to house over 700 Ukrainian refugees on a cruise ship called the MS Victoria, which is to be docked in Leith, Edinburgh as a means of temporary accommodation.
Speaking to Edinburgh News refugee minister Neil Gray said he was “proud” that Scotland through the super sponsor scheme was providing “accommodation to the most Ukrainians per head of population in the UK.”
The UNHCR’s ‘data portal’ records 5,650,272 Ukrainian refugees across Europe as of July 6th.
A breakdown of the number of Ukrainian diaspora recorded in a list of European nations, including Ireland and the UK, can be viewed here.