A new briefing from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), written by University of Glasgow researcher Dr Dan Fisher, examines and offers learnings from the implementation of the Homes for Ukraine and Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme in Scotland.

The research was carried out by Dr Dan Fisher, a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow Centre for Public Policy, during his SPICe Academic Fellowship.

It is informed by interviews with senior actors and decision-makers in the Scottish Government, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and Local Authorities who were involved in the resettlement of people from Ukraine in Scotland.

Given that both schemes were designed and implemented within just 32 days of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022, the report concludes that the resettlement effort was a positive demonstration of the UK Government, Scottish Government, CoSLA and Local Authorities cooperating in the face of a crisis. However, it also notes that there are many learnings that can be made in the event of a similar crisis occurring in the future.

It says the response emphasised the value of trust and regular communication between Scottish Government directorates and UK Government departments - especially where they do not routinely work together outside of crisis situations.

It also notes that there should have been better means of sharing information with the UK Government, Scottish Government and Local Authorities about people’s visa applications and case files following their arrival in the UK. This would have supported Local Authorities in delivering the Homes for Ukraine scheme on the ground, who often reported that they frequently learned of sponsorship arrangements after guests from Ukraine had already arrived in the UK.

Through the interviews, the research also found that Scottish Government officials had a lack of oversight of the visa applications being processed by the UK Home Office. Better sharing of visa processing data could have also improved the administration of the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme, as more knowledge of arrivals might have improved the organisation of temporary Welcome Accommodation for those sponsored by the Scottish Government.

However, the report also notes that both government schemes would have benefited from more input from Local Authority resettlement teams with experience of refugee integration. Closer collaboration on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme with local government might have helped local communities to better understand the requirements and expectations of sponsorship. In the case of the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme, better collaboration might have prevented the bottlenecks that occurred in Welcome Accommodation - where it became difficult to encourage people to move out of Welcome Accommodation, especially once children had been enrolled in school and adults had found local employment.

The briefing makes the following key recommendations for a future migration crisis:

  • While a crisis response may require new resilience structures to be established, existing governance structures, knowledge and experience should be recognised and used as far as possible in the design of new schemes
  • Better understanding of housing availability should be made before setting out the parameters of a response
  • Data management and data transfer should be at the forefront of discussions when establishing a response to a crisis
  • For person-centred and trauma-informed approaches, greater alignment should be considered between government departments designing policy and those responsible for implementing it
  • Clearer communication should be made to those being resettled, so they understand any expectations made of them in return for the support they are granted, for example around Welcome Accommodation

Dr Dan Fisher, Research Associate at the Centre for Public Policy and author of the briefing, said: “I’m incredibly grateful to those who contributed to the report by recounting their experiences of implementing the Ukraine resettlement efforts in Scotland. In a world in which forced migration is likely to become increasingly common, I hope this briefing provides useful insights to the Scottish Parliament (and perhaps others abroad too).”
 
Professor Nicola McEwen, Director of the Centre for Public Policy, said: “This is an excellent report that highlights the importance of intergovernmental collaboration, not just in times of crisis. These resettlement schemes are a perfect illustration of how policy challenges often defy the constitutional division of powers, and demand governments work together to achieve better outcomes for those they are trying to support.
 
“At the Centre for Public Policy, we are committed to working with the policy community as they confront pressing challenges. Forced migration and refugee integration are among the most pressing. Dan’s evidence-based analysis and recommendations offer rich insight and practical guidance. Not only as a reflection on what worked and what could have worked better, but to inform planning in the face of new shared challenges.”

Read the report

Read the report on the Scottish Parliament website:

A review of intergovernmental cooperation and communication during Ukraine resettlement efforts in Scotland

For more information contact public-policy@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 27 August 2025

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