Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Supported Accommodation: Care Standards

Monday 25 October 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steve McCabe questioned the adequacy of the regulation of standards of care in exempt supported accommodation.
  • The Minister acknowledged ongoing work with local authorities on pilots aimed at improving the quality of supported accommodation.
  • Steve McCabe highlighted that over 150,000 exempt accommodation premises nationwide were substandard, citing a non-compliance case in Birmingham.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve McCabe Lab
Social Care Standards & Ethics
Context

There is concern about the regulation and standard of care in exempt supported accommodation across the UK, particularly regarding vulnerable individuals. The question arises from recent assessments needed to ensure proper oversight.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of the regulation of standards of care in exempt supported accommodation?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

Supported housing plays a vital role in delivering better outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. My Department has been working with local authorities on several pilots focused on improving the quality of accommodation and support for people in exempt accommodation. We have given more than £5 million to five councils, including almost £2 million to Birmingham City Council. The pilots concluded in September, and we are assessing the findings to decide our next steps.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment requested is not provided; instead, general information about pilots and funding is given.

How: Working With Local Authorities, Assessing Pilot Findings

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Q2 Steve McCabe Lab
Social Care Housing
Context

There is a significant issue regarding the living conditions and compliance rates for vulnerable individuals in exempt accommodation, costing substantial public funds. The question arises from a critical assessment that regulatory oversight has failed to address these issues effectively.

Question

I am aware of the pilots, but the Minister must know that in more than 150,000 exempt accommodation premises across the country, vulnerable people are living in the most appalling circumstances. The regulator recently judged that the largest provider in Birmingham was non-compliant, while it is costing the taxpayer £110 million in Birmingham alone. For how much longer does he think the Government will be able to tolerate this state of affairs?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

It is important that we consider the fact that there are some excellent providers of supported housing across the country, and I say that with a vested interest, because I worked for one of them in Birmingham before I came to Parliament. Although I fully appreciate that the number of units of supported accommodation in Birmingham has doubled from approximately 11,000 to 22,000, it only takes a small percentage of rogue landlords to create a significant problem. As I said, we will continue to work closely with the council and Sharon Thompson, the councillor responsible there, to ensure we come up with a solution. I respect the hon. Gentleman tremendously, and I look forward to working with him on this issue.

Not addressed: The question about timeframe for improvements is not addressed; instead, personal experience and general statements are made.

How: Excellent Providers, Small Percentage Of Rogue Landlords

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