The government has officially unveiled a scheme for Brits to take families fleeing Ukraine into their homes.
Communities secretary Michael Gove told MPs there will be no limit to the number of people who can benefit from the Homes for Ukraine plan.
UK sponsors will be asked to sign up for six months and will receive a tax-free £350 allowance to help offset the costs.
The policy offers refugees a place to stay for up to three years but it’s unclear what will happen beyond that date.
People interested in taking part can now register their interest via a government website.
Mr Gove said red tape will be kept to a minimum to speed the process up but said security checks would be necessary for Ukrainians and sponsors.
He told the Commons: ‘The scheme will allow Ukrainians with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored by individuals or organisations who can offer them a home.
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‘There will be no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can benefit from this scheme.
‘The scheme will be open to all Ukrainian nationals and residents. They will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for up to three years.
‘They will have full and unrestricted access to benefits, health care, employment and other support.’
Labour’s shadow Levelling Up secretary raised concerns over how Ukrainians were supposed to reach out to families.
She said the government was running a ‘DIY asylum scheme’ that opened up the prospect of people being forced to publicly appeal for homes on social media.
She told the Commons: ‘On his tour of the TV studios, he suggested several times that people who are willing to sponsor a Ukrainian family need to come to the government with the name of that family who will then rubber stamp it.
‘He can’t seriously be asking Ukrainian families who are fleeing Vladimir Putin, who have left their homes with nothing, to get on to Instagram and advertise themselves in the hope a British family might notice them. Is this genuinely the extent of this scheme?’
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