MORE than 100,000 people in the UK are expected to sign up to house Ukrainian refugees after Tory ministers launched a new scheme – but charities and opposition leaders have raised concerns about the plans.

After almost three weeks on intense criticism over its response to the refugee crisis, the UK Government on Monday launched its Homes for Ukraine programme, which allows people and organisations to give those fleeing the war a place to stay.

Those accepted will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years, with “full and unrestricted access to benefits, healthcare, employment and other support”. Those offering a place to stay will receive a tax-free monthly payment of £350 which will not affect benefit entitlements or council tax status.

As of Tuesday morning, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities reported that 88,712 people had registered to house those fleeing the conflict.

Meanwhile, the first ministers of Scotland and Wales have submitted proposals to become “super sponsors” of Ukrainian refugees. Nicola Sturgeon said she was “frustrated” not to have been given the go-ahead by Michael Gove when he announced the UK plans.

Sturgeon explained Scotland is “offering to welcome 3000 refugees, effectively immediately, and to assume full responsibility for safeguarding, housing and support”. She added: “We’ve also set out how this can work within the UK scheme. All we need now is UKG to agree. Let’s hope that happens quickly.”

When Homes for Ukraine was initially launched, those trying to sign up were frustrated by issues with the website.

Concerns have also been raised about requirements for those registered to provide a name for those they wish to sponsor – and for refugees who are not Ukrainian nationals.

But Foreign Office minister James Cleverly has said he is “actually quite proud” that the UK Government’s website crashed.

He told LBC: “The irony of this is I’m actually quite proud that the system struggled. We built it quickly. We could have, yes … we could have spent more time stress-testing this website and delayed it a couple of days before launching.

“But, frankly, I’m glad we moved quickly on this and we’re moving quickly to ensure we’re able to help the Ukrainian refugees.”

He added: “I know this is a weird thing to say as a Government minister – I’m glad the website crashed, because it is a reflection of that generosity of the British people.”

Asked whether he will be personally taking part in the scheme, he replied: “I have genuinely considered this. I’ve discussed this with my wife.

“I don’t know whether our personal circumstances will allow us to do this right at the moment. As you know, Nick, my wife, she’s going through medical treatment at the moment, but it’s absolutely something that I’m considering.”

In “phase one” of the scheme, the Government said households must have “a named Ukrainian they wish to sponsor” rather than being matched with a refugee.

The National: Foreign Office minister James Cleverly Foreign Office minister James Cleverly

Cleverly defended that measure, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There are charities, faith groups, who are already in contact with people in Ukraine, people that need help and support.

“So, actually, rather than introduce a potentially slow and bureaucratic process, where people have already got connections – and there are a huge number of people and organisations that have already got connections with Ukrainians – rather than replicate, duplicate and slow that down, we want to be as agile and as quick as possible.

“That’s why we’re saying that, you know, we’ve got organisations which are already in contact with Ukrainians. We’ve now set up this site so British people can register their willingness to help and support.

“And, actually, what we’re looking to do is connect those both ends of that system together and do so in a way that’s quick and efficient.”

The Homes for Ukraine webpage also does not mention residents of Ukraine who are not Ukrainian nationals.

UK sponsors can be “of any nationality with any immigration status, provided they have at least six months leave to remain within the UK” and will need to provide accommodation for a “minimum of six months”.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities clarified after Gove’s announcement that the scheme will be open to Ukrainian nationals and immediate family members who were residents prior to January 1 – but did not include residents who are not Ukrainian nationals as an eligible group.

Amnesty International UK accused the Government of “trying to save face rather than setting out measures which genuinely respond to the needs of people fleeing the war in Ukraine”, adding: “After the Home Office’s chaotic and coldly bureaucratic response, the sponsorship scheme smacks of ‘emergency PR’ from a Government which has totally misread the public mood.

“We’ll need to see the full details, but the UK’s refugee sponsorship schemes do not have a good track record. A similar sponsorship arrangement for Syrians led to only a few hundred people being accommodated.”

Clare Moseley, founder of the charity Care4Calais, said there could be “significant implications” for people who lived in Ukraine but are not Ukrainian nationals.

She said: “We are supporting people who have lived in Ukraine for many years, have been forced to run and have lost their homes, and yet still may not qualify.

“This is not a time to be excluding anyone who needs safety due to the terrible events in Ukraine, as doing so will be devastating for those concerned.”