Government Support for Ukrainians

Victoria Collins Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Martin Wrigley]

Yes, I believe that we should be looking for a permanent solution and a permanent answer for the Ukrainians, and that is why I asked the Prime Minister about it last week. His answer was more positive than before, and he even appeared to say that another 18 months would be added. I ask the Minister to clarify that statement.

[Victoria Collins (Harpenden and Berkhamsted) (LD)]

I have a Ukrainian guest who says they feel safe and settled in Berkhamsted and cannot return, and is asking for a long-term solution. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need to look at examples of solutions, such as that in Poland, through which we can provide certainty for the Ukrainians here?

[Martin Wrigley]

Yes, we need to do exactly that.

If the UK is to support the defence of Ukraine, we must continue to support the vulnerable Ukrainian guests in our country and to give them some certainty about their future. In my discussions with groups around the Newton Abbot constituency, I have heard many of their concerns. We have one family with a 17-year-old son with them. Ukrainian child passports have a duration of just four years, and they have to renew his passport. He has been told to do that, but he will need to return to Kyiv. His parents are now worried that he will either not be allowed to get back here, or not be allowed to stay here with an expired passport.