Home Office risks leaving Ukraine orphans stranded, says Ian Blackford

The Home Office has been accused of being the "only obstacle" to allowing 48 Ukrainian orphans to receive sanctuary in Scotland.

The charity Dnipro Kids, established by fans of Hibernian Football Club, has evacuated 48 children to Poland from orphanages in Ukraine to Poland.

SNP MP Ian Blackford said a plane due to bring them to the UK would leave empty without the right paperwork.

A Home Office spokesman said his claim was "demonstrably false".

The spokesman said the Ukrainian government wanted to ensure that moving children from their home region is in the best interest of the child, and had not yet given permission for them to go to Scotland.

He added: "It is wrong to take children away from what they know without attempting to reunite them with their family first and without the agreement of their home government.

"We will continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities on this issue and provide them with any support they need."

Up to 3,000 people fleeing the conflict will be offered immediate temporary accommodation in Scotland, and could begin arriving as early as the weekend if the scheme is agreed.

The Scottish government has also announced a further £15m of funding will be made available to help refugees, including £11m for local councils and £2.5m for temporary accommodation.

Mr Blackford said he had spent much of the last week trying to help the charity provide the children with temporary sanctuary in Scotland.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Blackford said: "The Polish authorities, Edinburgh City Council, the Scottish government and the orphans' guardians are all working to bring these children to safety."

Mr Blackford commended UK refugees minister Lord Harrington for his efforts, but added: "A week on, the Home Office is still proving to be the only obstacle in the way and it risks leaving these children stranded.

"So I'm pleading with the deputy prime minister: remove these obstructions before it's too late."

Deputy PM Dominic Raab, standing in for Boris Johnson, denied bureaucracy was holding up the case.

He said: "We want to do everything we can.

"Of course there are range of issues in this case, including the wishes of the Ukrainian government on where orphaned children should go and should be living, whether any necessary permissions are being sought from the Ukrainian and/or Polish governments.

"This isn't actually about bureaucracy, it's about genuine safeguarding issues, but I certainly want to work with him in the best interests of those children."

Mr Blackford said the Polish and Ukrainian authorities had offered their support, adding: "We need the Home Office to give us the paperwork that'll make that happen."

Mr Raab replied: "It's very important that the proper international practices on safeguarding are followed, I know he appreciates that.

"We're keen to find out if family reunion options with Ukrainian families in the region have been considered.

"We also know that many children in state care in Ukraine have family members in the region - for the safeguarding and wellbeing of the children that must also be considered."

At Holyrood, the first minister set out plans for Scotland to be a "super sponsor" for people escaping the war in Ukraine.

The Scottish government has offered to sponsor 3,000 refugees straight away, and Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that Scotland would take at least 10% of the total number who seek a place in the UK.

She said people from Ukraine would not need to be matched with individual sponsors immediately, and would be housed in temporary accommodation before linking up with members of the public.

She warned that some fleeing the war "may be here for some time", saying the government was planning longer term housing and service provision for them.

The Scottish government's extra £15m of funding will include £1.4m for the Scottish Refugee Council to expand its integration service.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We have very recent experience of successfully integrating refugees into our communities.

"And I am confident that we will provide not just refuge, but a warm welcome, and a helping hand, to people whose lives have been ripped apart."