Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland ready to take 3,000 Ukraine refugees 'immediately'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland stands ready to take 3,000 Ukrainian refugees “as an immediate step”, Nicola Sturgeon has said as she called on the UK government to accelerate the numbers allowed into the country.The First Minister restated her government’s offer to act as a “super sponsor” of Ukrainian refugees as Michael Gove confirmed that only 3,000 UK visas have been issued to Ukrainian family members over the last two week of conflict.

In a series of Sunday morning tweets, the SNP leader expressed her frustration that Gove's scheme set out for UK households to sponsor individual refugees to stay with them will be too slow and bureaucratic.

She wrote: “ While not for want of trying, we don’t yet know all details, I am worried that it will be slow and cumbersome (people will need sponsors arranged before entry to UK), lack proper support and safeguarding, and not be sustainable for length of time people may need to be here.”“That is why the Scottish Government is offering to act as a ‘super sponsor’ .

This would allow significant numbers to arrive here quickly and be temporarily accommodated while we work with local partners to arrange longer term housing (inc from volunteers) and arrange safeguarding and support.” Sturgeon added: “I have said to UK government that we stand ready to welcome 3000 Ukrainians as an immediate step - and then at least a proportionate share of total coming to UK overall.