Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Following a recent review of the final income and expenditure for the Nation of Sanctuary budget for 2024-25 I would like to update Members on the total Welsh Government budget expenditure for the full financial years from 2019-2025.
The total net Welsh Government expenditure over the six years is £63.87m.
My previous Written Statement indicated a figure of around £54.88m which was first stated in mid-March 2025 and represented Welsh Government spend to the end of January 2025. Confirmed expenditure up to the end of the financial year to March 2025 takes the total figure to £63.87m. This figure includes £8m of additional Welsh Government Ukraine funding which was allocated at the end of March 2025 to all Local Authorities, which topped up the UK Government's Homelessness Prevention Grant (external link). This funding was provided to local authorities to prevent homelessness for all residents in need of homelessness prevention support and not restricted to any particular group or demographic.
Of this updated figure the total Welsh Government expenditure on the Ukraine response (since 2022) is £58.22m which represents 91% of the total Welsh Government expenditure on Nation of Sanctuary. The total non-Ukraine spend was £5.65m over the six years which represents 9% of the total. The total amount of £63.87m continues to represent 0.05% of the Welsh Government’s budget from 2019 to 2025.
Given the interest in this budget, I have provided a breakdown of the Nation of Sanctuary expenditure for 2019-2025 separately in Annex A, including the UK Government's financial support for the Ukrainian response since 2022.
Our Nation of Sanctuary vision means supporting those who, fleeing persecution and war, arrive here to rebuild their lives. We assist them to integrate into Welsh life and contribute positively to our nation. We believe this compassionate response gives people seeking sanctuary the best start possible and helps local economies, services and communities too. Since February 2022, almost 8,000 Ukrainians have found refuge in Wales thanks to Welsh sponsors. All local authorities, thousands of Welsh households and many third sector partners continue to provide significant support.