More than 1 in 10 Ukrainians still stuck in temporary accommodation

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has accused the Scottish Government of sending Ukrainian refugees "from one limbo to another," as new figures published today reveal that more than 1 in 10 Ukrainians remain in temporary accommodation, despite accommodation on board the Leith cruise ship coming to an end and no new visas being issued for more than a year.  

On 11 July 2023, the Scottish Government’s contract with Forth Ports ended and all Ukrainian refugees living on the Leith cruise ship were disembarked.  

In July 2022, ministers claimed that the Scottish Government's super sponsor visa scheme was being “paused”, though Mr Cole-Hamilton warned at the time that such a pause was likely to be permanent. As a result, no further Ukrainians have been able to obtain visas through the scheme for the past twelve months.  

Despite these developments, as of 10 July 2023, there were 3,535 Ukrainians in welcome accommodation such as hotels. As of 25 July, 25,155 displaced people from Ukraine have arrived in the UK with a Scottish sponsor (either an individual or the Scottish Government) meaning that 14% are still relying on temporary accommodation.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“More than one in ten of those who reached Scotland are still stuck in temporary accommodation.

“Now that Ukrainians have disembarked the cruise ship at Leith, the Scottish Government should be doing everything in its power to help them find suitable permanent housing. Instead, it seems that people are being sent from one limbo to another, with thousands still living out of suitcases.  

“The big promises of Scottish ministers were never matched by giving local authorities the necessary resources to vet volunteer hosts or find appropriate housing. Some were even forced to take the drastic step of returning to Ukraine for medical appointments and dental care- missile strikes are apparently less daunting than the waits in Scotland’s NHS.    

“I warned a year ago that the “paused” scheme would never reopen. Yet, despite cutting off this route to safety and vastly reducing the number of Ukrainians able to travel to Scotland, ministers have still failed to get their act together and ensure everyone is housed and in receipt of basic services.  

“I am concerned that unless the new minister for migration takes urgent action to help local authorities, many of these families and individuals will be trapped in further uncertainty, unable to get on with their lives.”