UKRAINIANS living in Teignbridge will be able to remain in the country for longer following a Parliamentary debate secured by Newton Abbot MP Martin Wrigley.

His adjournment debate last night followed worries by Ukrainians living in his constituency that their right to stay may not be extended.

Currently there are 2,399 Ukrainians in Devon of the 270,000 visas issued under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have been issued to Ukrainian guests here in the UK, of whom 2,399 are in Devon.

Initially offering for three years, the scheme was extended by another 18 months in February but many are now looking at their visas coming to an end.

Parliamentary Under-Sectretary of State for the Home Department Seema Malhotra MP said: ‘I confirm to the House we will be extending the leave beyond 18 months.

‘I thank the hon. Member for Newton Abbot once again for securing the debate.

‘The United Kingdom has rightly offered support and sanctuary to our Ukrainian friends in their hour of need.

‘The Government will continue to do right by the Ukrainian people.’

Exact details are yet to be released.

In the debate, Mr Wrigley had explained that Ukrainians who have integrated into society, taken jobs, rented flats and paid taxes, are starting to face less than 12 months left on their visas.

He said: ‘That makes it hard, if not impossible, to rent a new flat, or get a new job.

‘Speaking with groups of guests in my Newton Abbot constituency, they are mostly working, integrating into the local community and strongly supporting each other.

‘However, they are scared for what happens next.

‘If the UK is to support the defence of Ukraine, we must continue to support these vulnerable guests in our country and give them some certainty of their future.

‘For them all to return to a country with a shattered infrastructure would not be practical for a number of years.

‘Clearing land mines, dealing with unexploded bombs, demolition and rebuilding must be done before most of the guests we have here could think about returning.’

He told Parliament of one family here with their 17-year-old son. Ukrainian child passports last for four years and to renew his passport, he was told he needs to return to Kiev.

But his parents are worried he will either not be allowed to get back or not allowed to stay with an expired passport.

One Ukrainian woman in Newton Abbot with her elderly mother and has lost her husband, son and father.

Her home was in the Russian occupied zone, and like much of her village, has been razed to the ground.

Mr Wrigley said: ‘Even when peace does break out, what has she got to go back to but landmines and unexploded bombs.

‘I have been impressed by the way Ukrainians do not sit back but get up and get working.

‘In many cases, they have taken jobs way below their qualifications while they learn the language, settle in and find their way.

‘One guest is a fully qualified Ukrainian dentist and we need dentists, especially in Devon.

‘The first part of verifying his qualification for the UK has taken many months and cost £600.

‘However, to become a fully qualified dentist, he needs to spend £4,300 and more time, and the waiting time alone may make that futile, given the short time left on his visa.’