Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
DLUHC and DWP commissioned research to improve understanding of the supported housing sector.
Conclusion
Both DLUHC and DWP have committed to improving data.28 DLUHC has commissioned research to provide an up-to-date understanding of the supported housing sector in England, with funding from DWP to extend it to Scotland and Wales. DLUHC intends that the snapshot of data focuses on the size and composition of the sector, costs, current and future supply and demand, the interaction between commissioners and housing providers, and how to improve monitoring.29 DLUHC told us that it will use this research to understand the gaps in supported housing and feed into the design of the quality standards and licensing scheme.30 DLUHC has assured us that the research will be published, and the aim is for it to be completed by the end of 2023.31
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, with a Summer 2024 target. It confirms the DLUHC-commissioned research for early 2024 publication, followed by a second research project, and reiterates DWP's ongoing data improvement initiatives, including £4.79 million funding for local authorities to review existing Housing Benefit claims.
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.