Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
DLUHC and DWP lack reliable national data on the supported housing sector.
Conclusion
DLUHC and DWP have no reliable data about supported housing and as a result cannot assess and resolve the problems within the sector. The NAO investigation found that DLUHC and DWP do not routinely collect national data on the numbers of people living in supported housing or the numbers of units of supported housing. The most comprehensive national picture of supported housing is from DWP and DLUHC’s (then the Department for Communities and Local Government, or DCLG) joint review in 2016 for which they surveyed local authorities. However, not even half (197 of the 407 local authorities surveyed across England, Wales and Scotland) actually provided responses.24 DLUHC and DWP have acknowledged that the data is not as it should be.25 16 DSH0007 17 DSH0006 18 Q 2 19 See Parliamentary debate on the Bill 11.01.23, Felicity Buchan opening statement: Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill – Hansard – UK Parliament 20 DSH0001, DSH0007 21 Q 26 22 C&AG’s Report, para 3.6, Figure 5 23 Q 4 24 C&AG’s Report, para 2.19 25 Q 3 Supported housing 11
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, acknowledging limited data and committing to specific actions including DLUHC commissioning research and DWP making IT system improvements, providing £4.79 million in funding to local authorities to improve data quality by March 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 3.2 The government recognises that data is limited, and that better quality data would support evidence-based decision making. 3.3 DLUHC has commissioned research to provide an up-to-date assessment of the sector, which is due to be published in early 2024. Following this, a second research project will set out the benefits and outcomes delivered by supported housing. 3.4 In 2022, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made investments to deliver improvements to local authority (LA) IT systems, to accurately record all new Housing Benefit claims. This has substantially improved data quality for new claims. DWP has contacted LAs with lists of incorrectly recorded new claims for them to make necessary changes. 3.5 DWP has also taken action to improve data on existing claims. LAs have been awarded £4.79 million in additional New Burdens funding to review their Housing Benefit caseload and set the supported housing status accurately. This review is to be completed by 31 March 2024. DWP is monitoring administrative data to identify LAs’ progress with the case review and will continue to do so until March 2024. 3.6 From April 2024, these changes will ensure DWP has robust data enabling it to quantify the scale and cost of specified accommodation. DWP will continue to monitor new Housing Benefit claims to ensure that data quality is maintained. 3.7 The Act places new duties on local housing authorities to produce supported housing strategic plans and introduces a licensing regime. These measures will allow DLUHC to capture information on the supply and demand of supported housing and provide a better understanding of the sector. Details will be consulted on in early 2024 and DLUHC will also carry out a New Burdens assessment.