Eye-watering sum Scottish Government spent on empty rooms for refugees revealed
EMPTY ROOM BILL Eye-watering sum Scottish Government spent on empty rooms for refugees revealed
THE Scottish Government has spent up to £75million on empty hotel rooms for Ukrainian refugees, we can reveal.
Figures show £294million of taxpayers' cash has been used to reserve shelter for those fleeing Russia's invasion since 2022.
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Scottish Tory shadow housing minister Meghan Gallacher called the bill 'eye-watering'
Credit: Alamy
But between 10 and 25 per cent of rooms were unoccupied at any given time, suggesting £30million to £75million has been wasted.
Scottish Tory shadow housing minister Meghan Gallacher called the bill 'eye-watering'.
She added: 'Like thousands of Scots, vulnerable Ukrainians are being forced to live in temporary accommodation because of SNP ministers' failure to build enough homes.
'That's unfair on them and unfair on taxpayers.'
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has sparked a major humanitarian crisis.
And more than 28,000 people with a Scottish sponsor have arrived in the UK so far.
The administration refused to name the hotel companies over 'potential risks' if the information became 'public knowledge'.
But the 'vast majority of this money' was paid to a firm called Corporate Travel Management which organises accommodation and contracts.
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A whopping £144million was paid out 2022-23, more than £108million in 2023-24, and almost £40million in 2024-25.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: 'Providing support and sanctuary to people fleeing Russia's illegal war against Ukraine continues to be a priority.'
The Sun tracks down Ukrainian mother and child pictured fleeing Putin's war on our front page
A Government spokesman said: 'Welcome accommodation occupancy rates were inevitably subject to daily fluctuations as some individuals left while others entered accommodation.'
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