Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Homes for Ukraine

Status: Closed Opened: 24 Oct 2023 Closed: 3 May 2024 3 recommendations 24 conclusions 1 report

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Under the scheme, people in the UK can act as sponsors for Ukrainian nationals and their families who are seeking refuge from the war. Individuals can be granted three-year visas to stay in the UK, with full access …

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Fourteenth Report - Homes for Ukraine	HC 69	23 Feb 2024	27	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items

6 Conclusion Fourteenth Report - Homes for Ukraine Deferred

Require DLUHC to assess commercial options for Palantir contract expiry and justify any extension.

DLUHC has not yet assessed what it will do when its current contract with Palantir to provide the scheme’s main data system ends in September 2024. In order to set the scheme up quickly, in March 2022, DLUHC accepted an offer from Palantir, a company on the public sector framework …

Government response. DLUHC is reviewing its commercial options for the Palantir contract, including a potential renewal, but cannot provide further details due to commercial sensitivity. It justified previous decisions by stating the Homes for Ukraine scheme fell under 'exceptional circumstances'.

HM Treasury

21 Conclusion Fourteenth Report - Homes for Ukraine Deferred

DLUHC awarded direct contract to Palantir for data system after initial pro-bono period.

At the start of the scheme, DLUHC identified a need to share data between itself, the Home Office and local authorities, including data on the subsequent movement of Ukrainians after their arrival into the UK. DLUHC chose to accept an offer from a company called Palantir to use its data …

Government response. DLUHC is reviewing options for the Palantir contract ahead of its September 2024 expiry, potentially extending it until September 2025, but further details are commercially sensitive. The government reiterates that the initial contract fell under 'exceptional circumstances' due to urgency.

HM Treasury

23 Conclusion Fourteenth Report - Homes for Ukraine Deferred

DLUHC remains undecided on future data solution, risking procurement delays post-Palantir contract.

The current contract with Palantir is due to end in September 2024. We therefore asked DLUHC what its plans were after 2024. DLUHC told us it would look “very closely” at next steps and would take a decision at the “appropriate moment”.37 We challenged the Department on when an appropriate …

Government response. DLUHC is undertaking work to review options for the Palantir contract ahead of its September 2024 expiry, including a potential extension until September 2025. Further details are commercially sensitive, with a decision targeted by September 2024.

HM Treasury

27 Conclusion Fourteenth Report - Homes for Ukraine Deferred

Homes for Ukraine scheme provides better value for money despite incomplete cost calculations.

We asked DLUHC about the value for money of the scheme. DLUHC told us that it thought the cost of scheme was much lower than for other resettlement schemes. It explained that the cost per night of the accommodation was lower as sponsors provided the accommodation.44 Thank you payments equated …

Government response. DLUHC continuously monitors scheme progress and has developed an emergency sponsorship playbook. The department is currently exploring options for a further value for money evaluation of the scheme, with a target implementation date of Spring 2025, while affirming the scheme's …

HM Treasury

Correspondence

1 letter

Date	Direction	Title
12 Jan 2024	—	Correspondence from Sarah Healey CB CVO, Permanent Secretary, Department for Le…