More than four million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion
(Picture: PA Wire)The Government needs to get a “strong grip” on the process of bringing Ukrainian refugees to the UK, a minister admitted on Thursday.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the Home Office has been working to “sort out” visa applications following reports that it was taking weeks for families fleeing the war to be matched with British sponsors willing to give them a home.
The Home Office has received 65,000 visa applications from Ukrainians through its two sponsorship schemes.
But fewer than half had been granted permission to come to UK by March 31.
“I think we need a strong grip on the process,” Mr Kwarteng told LBC.
“I know that [Home Secretary] Priti Patel is working extremely hard with her officials to try and sort this out.”
Some 150,000 people in the UK have signed up to offer homes to Ukrainian refugees.
But Britons have complained about red tape and administrative hurdles.
Some have reportedly been told they need to upgrade their homes before being considered suitable.
Mr Kwarteng added: “I don’t think that we should be ashamed of the generosity that we have shown.”
