UKRAINIANS living in Britain have been left “powerless” to help their families back home and are being “seriously failed” by the UK Government, it has been claimed.
Ukrainians living in the UK before the outbreak of war are excluded from accessing benefits and helping bring their families over – in contrast to those who have more recently arrived through the Government’s refugee policies.
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Those living in Britain on temporary visas – performing low-paid agricultural work and at risk of exploitation – are unable to bring their families to the UK through the Ukrainian Family Scheme.
The situation has been described as “nothing short of a scandal” following a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s External Affairs Committee on Thursday.
The Committee heard from the Scottish Refugee Council who told MSPs that Ukrainian farm workers were facing “severe restrictions” in aiding their families.
Andy Sirel, legal director and partner of JustRight Scotland, said the agricultural seasonal workers' scheme was causing “significant difficulties”, highlighting two cases where two Ukrainian couples in the UK were unable to bring their children over to escape the war.
Neil Gray, the newly-appointed minister for Ukrainian refugees in the Scottish Government, confirmed the Edinburgh administration is in talks with the Home Office on the issue.
Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell said he had heard of “terrifying” cases within his constituency where “Ukrainian workers on farms in Fife and Perthshire who are powerless to get their young children out of a warzone”.
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He added: “It’s entirely within the power of the UK Home Office to fix this. But let’s be clear – the Tories in Westminster are choosing to exclude some Ukrainian refugees from protection. And the consequences are catastrophic.
“This is not what a functioning refugee protection system looks like.”
He has called on the Home Office to give Ukrainians living in the UK access to benefits and to allow them to bring family over on the Family Scheme.
Clare Adamson, the SNP convener of the committee, said the barriers placed on Ukrainians in the UK were “extremely concerning”.
She added: “Families in the UK are desperate to bring their loved ones here but those who are classed as seasonal workers are being excluded from the Homes for Ukraine scheme, causing extreme distress and worry for Ukrainians living here.
“It was pleasing to hear that charities have recognised the empathetic approach from the Scottish Government by introducing the super-sponsor scheme, Scotland is ready to play its part in this humanitarian response.
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“The Home Office should be following the lead of the Scottish Government and putting people first and paperwork second.”
Ukrainian workers on temporary visas will have their leave to remain in the UK extended until December 31, 2022.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “In response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine, we have extended the visas for Ukrainians in the UK and will continue to keep the situation under review."
“We are moving as quickly as possible to ensure that those fleeing horrific persecution in Ukraine can find safety in the UK, setting up the both Ukraine Family scheme and now the Homes for Ukraine scheme which allows those without family connections to come here.”
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