Over 26,000 Ukrainians given homes in Scotland statement: FOI release

Information requested

1. On the 24th February 2024, the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, First Minister Humza Yousaf, attended a Ukrainian memorial service at Edinburgh Castle. At this event, the First Minister was interviewed by ‘Forth 1 News’ and said the following; ‘First and foremost, I want to say to those Ukrainians who are living in Scotland that this country, Scotland, will be their home for as long as they want it to be. I am very proud of the fact that over 26,000 Ukrainians have been given homes here in Scotland.’ Please provide data to support the statement from the First Minister that ‘over 26,000 Ukrainians have been given homes here in Scotland’.

2. Section 1.3 of the Ministerial Code states that, Ministers (including the First Minister) ‘are expected to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life’, which includes ‘Honesty’ and the requirement that, ‘Holders of public office should be truthful’. The First Minister has stated that ‘over 26,000 Ukrainians have been given homes here in Scotland’. If this statement is shown to be untrue, please provide confirmation of whether or not the First Minister will be deemed to have broken Section 1.3 of the Ministerial Code.

Response

With regards to part one of your request, seeking ‘data to support the statement from the First Minister that “over 26,000 Ukrainians have been given homes here in Scotland”’ I enclose some of the information you requested below. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don’t have this information are explained below.

The UK Government’s Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) regularly publish statistics on the numbers of visa applications, visas issued and arrivals to the UK with a Scottish Sponsor. The latest release shows that as of 5 March 2024, 26,729 individuals have arrived in the UK sponsored by an individual in Scotland or the Scottish Government.

These arrivals have all been offered sanctuary by Scotland as they have arrived in the UK as a direct result of visas sponsored by an individual in Scotland or the Scottish Government, and they are all eligible to travel to Scotland and to enter welcome accommodation provided by the Scottish Government if they wish to.

The UK and Scottish data available however, makes it difficult to determine that all of these individuals have indeed travelled to Scotland and have been housed within Scotland. I am therefore unable to provide all of the data that you have requested. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have all of the information you have requested.

With regards to your second request, seeking ‘confirmation of whether or not the First Minister will be deemed to have broken Section 1.3 of the Ministerial Code’, the answer to your question is below.

Section 1.3 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, set out in full at Annex A, refers to the ‘overarching duty on Ministers to comply with the law including international law and treaty obligations, and to uphold the administration of justice and to protect the integrity of public life.’ It also states that Ministers are expected to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life and the principles of Ministerial conduct.

As set out in the data described above, it is clear that Scotland has offered sanctuary to over 26,000 displaced Ukrainians, by enabling over 26,000 people to come to the UK and providing welcome accommodation for everyone who required it. The statement by the First Minister does not, therefore, represent a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and the Code is therefore not engaged.

I would like to thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of using precise language which accurately reflects the situation, as substantiated by the data available.

ANNEX A

Scottish Ministerial Code – Section 1.3

1.3 The Ministerial Code should be read against the background of the overarching duty on Ministers to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations, and to uphold the administration of justice and to protect the integrity of public life. They are expected to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life (set out in the Annex to this Code) and the following principles of Ministerial conduct:

(a) The principle of collective responsibility, as defined in section 2 below, applies to all Ministers;

(b) Ministers have a duty to the Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions taken within their field of responsibility;

(c) It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to the Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead the Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the First Minister;

(d) Ministers should be as open as possible with the Parliament and the public, reflecting the aspirations set out in the Report of the Consultative Steering Group on the Scottish Parliament. They should refuse to provide information only in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and other relevant statutes;

(e) Ministers should similarly require civil servants who give evidence before Committees on their behalf and under their direction to be as helpful as possible in providing accurate, truthful and full information in accordance with the duties and responsibilities of civil servants as set out in the Civil Service Code;[1] 

(f) Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests;

(g) Ministers should not accept any gift or hospitality which might, or might reasonably appear to, compromise their judgement or place them under an improper obligation;

(h) Ministers must keep separate their roles as Minister and as constituency or regional list Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP);

(i) Ministers must not use public resources for party political purposes;

(j) Ministers must uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service and not ask civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the Civil Service Code as set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.[2]

Annex: The Seven Principles of Public Life

The Seven Principles of Public Life[35]

1. Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

1. Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

1. Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

1. Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

1. Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

1. Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.

1. Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.