NORTHWICH MP Mike Amesbury told Government the generosity of the British public in offering to house Ukrainian refugees risked being ‘wasted’.

Despite 150,000 people coming forward to host a refugee, just 2,700 visas had been issued under the Homes for Ukraine scheme as millions flee the war zone.

Speaking in his capacity as Shadow Housing Minister, the Weaver Vale Labour MP told housing minister Eddie Hughes: “Nearly 150,000 people have signed up to sponsor Ukrainian refugees in a testament to the generous spirit of the nation and our regions.

“Yet that generosity risks being wasted as the figures released confirm that just 2,700 visas have been granted by government under the scheme so far.

"And of course, visas are not the same thing as refugees who have actually arrived here, fleeing for their lives, from the bullets, the missiles, the bombs.”

Mr Amesbury, who raised his concerns in an urgent question, said councils also needed to know when refugees had arrived on their patch in order to provide support.

He continued: “How will councils know when refugees have arrived in their authority and require services? Proactive data sharing is not good enough!”

The Homes for Ukraine scheme was designed to allow Ukrainians with no family links to come to Britain and be hosted by members of the public, who will be paid £350 per month with the local council paid £10,500 to provide support services.

But Mr Amesbury, who helped a Ukrainian mother and her two daughters find sanctuary with relatives in Northwich, was concerned councils would not receive the same funding if refugees arrived via the family scheme.

And he raised fears of a homelessness crisis after it emerged 144 Ukrainians had already declared themselves homeless. Some had been brought across by family who unfortunately had insufficient room to accommodate them.

Mr Amesbury concluded: “The government really must now take an active role in matching sponsors to refugees, otherwise the generosity of people, who just want to help, will be wasted.

“The British people have stepped up in Ukraine’s hour of need, it’s clear the Government need to urgently do the same.”