Ukraine: Visa Restrictions for Refugees

Baroness Chakrabarti Excerpts

Monday 28th February 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

I thank my noble friend for that question. I have to go back to what I said earlier, I am afraid. We believe that visas are an important security tool. However, there are safe and legal routes for people to apply for visas.

[Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister remember that the reason we have a refugee convention in the first place is because we have been here before, with ships of Jewish refugees not being allowed to stop at any safe port? The Minister has said now at least twice that people should go west and claim in the first safe country. The Government repeatedly tell us that that is where they should claim asylum and that is where they should stay. How does that involve us doing our part?

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

I understand the point about ships, but there are no direct travel routes from Ukraine to this country at the moment. The safest route for people to leave Ukraine is via neighbouring countries to the west.