Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for this opportunity to update the
House on the government’s humanitarian response to Putin’s
depraved war on Ukraine.
As the House knows, the UK’s humanitarian support for Ukraine has
been developed following close consultation with their government
and governments in the region.
On 4 March, I launched the Ukraine Family Scheme. It applies to
immediate and extended Ukrainian family members and everyone
eligible is granted 3 years’ leave to enter or remain.
Today, I want to set out further changes I am making to the
process to make it quicker and simpler. I have 2 overreaching
obligations: first to keep the British people safe. Second to do
all we can to help Ukrainians.
No Home Secretary can take these decisions lightly and I am in
daily contact with the intelligence and security agencies who are
providing me with regular threat assessments.
What happened in Salisbury showed what Putin is willing to do on
our soil. It also demonstrated that a small number of people with
evil intentions can wreak havoc on our streets.
This morning I received assurances which enable me to announce
changes to the Ukraine Family Scheme. Based on the new advice I
have received, I am now in a position to announce that vital
security checks will continue on all cases.
From Tuesday, I can announce that Ukrainians with passports will
no longer need 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 that they are eligible for the scheme and can come
to the UK.
In short, Ukrainians with passports will be able to get
permission to come here, fully online, from wherever they are;
and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain.
This will mean, Mr Speaker, that Visa Application Centres across
Europe can focus their efforts on helping Ukrainians without
passports. We have increased the capacity at those centres to
over 13,000 appointments per week.
This streamlined approach will be operational as of Tuesday 15
March, in order to make the relevant technology and IT changes.
I will, Mr Speaker, of course update the House if the security
picture changes and if it becomes necessary to make further
changes to protect our domestic homeland security.
Threat assessments are always changing, and we will always keep
our approach under review.
In the meantime, Mr Speaker, I once again salute the heroism of
the Ukrainian people.
