Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
DLUHC's collected local authority spend data remains of questionable usefulness.
Conclusion
We questioned the usefulness of the spend data DLUHC had collected from local authorities, given it was often qualitative and provided voluntarily.19 DLUHC stressed that from the start it had needed to balance the demand for data against placing a burden on local authorities.20 Preventing homelessness
Government Response Summary
DLUHC now requires local authorities to provide details on how they spend their tariff as part of the quarterly payments process, improving understanding for future funding decisions. The department continues to use various data sources and collaborate with partners to monitor the scheme and build a robust evidence base.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.7 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.8 A variety of sources are used to inform DLUHC’s evidence base about how the scheme is progressing, and to inform future funding decisions. 4.9 DLUHC continues to work closely with voluntary community sector organisations, local authorities and others to monitor the needs of Ukrainian guests and this informs what and where the most effective interventions are. For example, targeting funding to those local authorities who had a higher number of Ukrainian guests arriving. 4.10 As part of the quarterly payments process, DLUHC requires local authorities to provide detail on how they are spending their tariff. This information improves our understanding of how the scheme is operating in practice and inform future funding decisions. 4.11 As noted in the department’s response to recommendation 2, DLUHC continues to take action to improve how many local authorities respond to data collection on Ukraine Homelessness. 4.12 DLUHC will continue to work with ONS and Home Office to collect survey information from both guests and hosts in order to build, maintain and monitor a robust evidence base.