Ukrainian refugees could be housed on ship for six months
UKRAINE refugees could be forced to live on a cruise ship for up to six months, the Mail can reveal.
The Scottish Government last night confirmed that the MS Victoria, which is docked at Leith, Edinburgh, has been chartered until next January.
It also said some refugees would be moved to the ship from existing shortterm accommodation, such as hotels.
Confirmation of the long-term charter comes despite a refugee charity asking for people to be accommodated on the ship for a maximum of a few weeks.
Concerns have been raised that those on the ship will be unable to find a job or a place in school because they cannot provide a home address.
The final cost of the contract is not yet known, but it is expected that the bill for hiring the vessel will soar beyond £1million a month.
Following inquiries by the Mail, the Scottish Government yesterday confirmed the ship has been chartered for six months. But opponents want clarity on which refugees will be moved onto the ship and how long they will live there.
Miles Briggs, social justice and housing spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: ‘The SNP must give urgent clarity on their plans to house hundreds of Ukrainian refugees on this cruise ship.
‘After pausing the super sponsor scheme they talked up so much, they cannot now shirk their responsibilities about what impact this potentially could have on those who have fled from war zones.
‘Employment and schooling prospects could be affected, as well as brave refugees being left in limbo as to whether accommodation on the cruise ship will be short term or not.’
The Scottish Government announced last week that the MS Victoria would provide 739 rooms for Ukraine refugees, as it confirmed suspension of its super sponsor scheme for three months amid concerns about a shortage of accommodation.
It said the vessel, normally used by Estonian operator Tallink on a route between Tallinn and Stockholm, would provide accommodation for those who have already applied for or been granted a visa.
In yesterday’s Mail, the Scottish Refugee Council said using the ship and other shortterm temporary accommodation is ‘far from ideal’ and called for people to be moved to social housing and private lets as quickly as possible.
It also raised concerns that families could struggle to secure jobs or places in school while based on the ship.
The Scottish Government insisted that people living on the vessel will be able to use it as an address for local services, adding: ‘We do not wish to see displaced people from Ukraine spending more time in temporary accommodation, like the passenger ship, than is absolutely necessary.’
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