Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has taken steps to prepare for a potential increase in applications for asylum from Ukrainian nationals.

The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.

We are already doubling the number of decision makers in asylum and working to streamline our processes. These will be of benefit if increased numbers of Ukrainians claim asylum within the UK.

The Home Office has also agreed a range of temporary concessions to support Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK who are now unable to return when their existing visa expires. These concessions will assist Ukrainian nationals in extending their stay in the UK without having to leave and re-apply from overseas or enter the asylum system.

Individuals in the UK who are unable to return to Ukraine may be eligible to switch visa routes, even if the visa type typically does not allow this.

Further information can be found on GOV.UK page: Support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)