A cruise ship could be set to dock in the River Clyde to temporarily house refugees who have fled the war in Ukraine.
Hundreds of refugees are already living on board the MV Victoria in Leith after it was commissioned by the Scottish Government as a short term accommodation solution. And now SNP ministers are considering hiring a second cruise ship to temporarily house more refugees.
If the plans go ahead, the vessel would likely dock on the Clyde near Glasgow, the Daily Record reports. It comes amid reports the Scottish Government is considering making a formal request to the British Army for assistance in housing people who have fled Ukraine.
READ MORE: Driver who killed Glasgow grandad by ploughing into his motorbike dodges jail
More than 30,000 visas were issued to Ukrainians before SNP ministers closed the super sponsor scheme in July to allow staff to deal with a backlog in applications. There are more than 10,000 refugees currently living in Scotland.
Most of those coming to Scotland are women, children and elderly people. Men aged 18 to 60 are barred from leaving the country under martial law.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said ministers were, 'exploring all options to provide safe and secure accommodation as part of its warm Scottish welcome to displaced Ukrainian people seeking shelter'.
Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
The spokesperson added: "However, no formal request has been made to the Ministry of Defence to help house displaced people from Ukraine. The Scottish Government is continuing to explore all options to ensure that there is sufficient and safe accommodation for displaced people from Ukraine arriving in Scotland.
"This includes the current passenger ship, docked in Edinburgh, which has received a very positive reception from the people on board. The welfare of all displaced Ukrainians staying across the country remains the Scottish Government’s absolute priority and we are seeing high numbers of displaced people arriving in Scotland through the successful Super Sponsor Scheme – the most per head of any of the four nations across the UK.
"Nearly 12,000 displaced people from Ukraine with a Scottish sponsor have now arrived – 15.5 per cent of all UK arrivals.”
READ NEXT
Glasgow joins calls for more money as COSLA set talks to prevent strike action
Glasgow canal path reopens after 2 years as new £13.5m bridge nears completion
Glasgow to get ride-hailing app Bolt as licence granted despite private hire complaints
Glasgow barber shop cordoned off after young woman 'sexually assaulted'
Blundering Glasgow nurse failed to spot seriously ill patient having cardiac arrest
