Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
DLUHC paused the planned Homes for Ukraine scheme evaluation, lacking a timeframe for completion.
Recommendation
We asked DLUHC whether it would be commissioning a fuller evaluation of the scheme. DLUHC had originally planned a process-focused evaluation, which it intended to complete by autumn 2023, but it paused work on this in spring 2023. DLUHC told us that it did not have a timeframe for an evaluation. While it accepted that it was right to learn lessons, and that it had been “looking at a lot of insights as we have gone along”, it told us that in the meantime it could not be assumed that the Homes for Ukraine scheme was a response to an unusual set of circumstances and not necessarily a blueprint that could easily be applied elsewhere.43
Government Response Summary
The government states it is exploring options for a fuller value for money evaluation of the scheme, with a target implementation date of Spring 2025. It will continue to collect and monitor relevant data as part of its continuous evolution approach.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 5.2 The department has committed to a continuous evolution approach, refining the scheme as lessons are learnt. It continues to monitor various data and evidence across the scheme to assess progress against key milestones and metrics (as set out in the NAO Report dated October 2023), reporting regularly to the Homes for Ukraine Programme Board. This includes, analysis of LA Foundry returns, homelessness statistics, ONS surveys and LA quarterly returns as part of the LA tariff and Thank You payment assurance process which has demonstrated effective use of the funding. 5.3 The department undertook an exercise to identify the emerging lessons of the sponsorship model to inform future refugee policy and preparation. It is also developing an emergency sponsorship playbook to equip future decision makers with the key considerations for establishing a similar scheme in future. 5.4 It will continue to collect and monitor this data and is currently exploring options for a further value for money evaluation of the scheme. 5.5 It is clear, however, that Homes for Ukraine was an effective value for money approach for accommodating high numbers of Ukrainians at speed. As stated above, DLUHC looked in detail at a range of evidence to understand the value for money case for thank you payments, this showed that thank you payments are good value for money compared to the counterfactual of government support for alternative accommodation options/ homelessness support. It costs £6 to £8 per person per night to provide a Ukrainian sponsorship accommodation (based on monthly thank you payments of £350 per household in the first year, and £500 per household thereafter), which is much lower than the costs to accommodate households in hotels or temporary accommodation and lower than housing benefit costs to support private rental option.