Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: housing people sleeping rough
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 934
17 March 2021
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-ninth report from Session 2019-21 · published 31 Aug 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
6
Recommendation
Accepted
It is uncertain whether the Department will meet its objective of providing 3,300 homes for...
Recommendation
It is uncertain whether the Department will meet its objective of providing 3,300 homes for people sleeping rough by the end of March 2021. Under its Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme, the Department has distributed £161 million funding against bids from …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to write to the committee by May 2021 to report progress on securing 3,300 homes under the Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme and provide details on ensuring supported and affordable housing for move-on.
HM Treasury
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7
Conclusion
Accepted
Notwithstanding the evident successes of Everyone In in the first wave of the pandemic, the...
Conclusion
Notwithstanding the evident successes of Everyone In in the first wave of the pandemic, the National Audit Office noted that the Department’s response to the resurgence of COVID-19 in autumn and winter 2020 did not appear as comprehensive as in …
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Government Response Summary
The government 'agreed' with the committee's implicit recommendation to keep its response under review, stating that it regularly reviews staffing capacity and ensures resources are aligned with ministerial priorities to support efforts in ending rough sleeping and reducing homelessness.
HM Treasury
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13
Conclusion
Accepted
As of January 2021, local authorities said they were expecting to spend an extra £192...
Conclusion
As of January 2021, local authorities said they were expecting to spend an extra £192 million in the 2020–21 financial year, in respect of additional spending on homelessness and rough sleeping as a result of the pandemic.46 The Department considers …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee’s points and highlights its commitment of over £750 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. It also outlines efforts to streamline funding, such as combining grants into the new Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2022.
HM Treasury
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14
Conclusion
Accepted
In addition, the Department is providing around £700 million for rough sleeping and homelessness in...
Conclusion
In addition, the Department is providing around £700 million for rough sleeping and homelessness in 2020–21, with the majority of this funding distributed through local authorities.49 Before the pandemic, the Department had planned to spend £495 million in 2020–21, as …
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Government Response Summary
The government 'agreed' with the committee's observation, reiterating its commitment of over £750 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping for 2021-22. They also noted efforts to streamline funding streams for local authorities by combining grants into one Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2022.
HM Treasury
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19
Conclusion
Accepted
Under its Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme, the Department has distributed £161 million funding against bids...
Conclusion
Under its Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme, the Department has distributed £161 million funding against bids from local authorities for the provision of 3,300 homes for housing rough sleepers.76 In October the Department led us to believe the majority of these …
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Government Response Summary
The government 'agrees' with the committee's observation (mistakenly calling it a recommendation) and commits to reporting progress on the delivery of 3,300 homes under the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, providing further details on housing routes, and writing to the Committee by May 2021.
HM Treasury
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20
Conclusion
Accepted
The Department described these 3,300 homes as “move-on” accommodation, although it made clear its assumption...
Conclusion
The Department described these 3,300 homes as “move-on” accommodation, although it made clear its assumption that residents would stay for an average of two years before needing to move on somewhere else. It did not clarify what its plans were …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the implicit recommendation to clarify move-on plans, stating they will provide further details on routes out of the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme into other forms of housing and will write directly to the Committee by May 2021.
HM Treasury
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21
Conclusion
Accepted
As of September 2020 the Department was reasonably confident that all 3,300 homes would be...
Conclusion
As of September 2020 the Department was reasonably confident that all 3,300 homes would be completed by its target date of 31 March 2021.80 In our evidence session the 69 C&AG’s Report, para 2.12. 70 Q 41. 71 Qq 31–2. …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and commits to reporting progress on the delivery of 3,300 homes under the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and will provide further details to the Committee by May 2021.
HM Treasury
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