HC Deb 17 September 2004 vol 424 cc1823-4W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2004,Official Report, column 1172W, on the Supporting People programme, what (a) monitoring and (b) research he has conducted on the operation of the Supporting People programme in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [189118]

Keith Hill

The Supporting People programme has been in operation since 1 April 2003. Since this time, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has undertaken—and continues to undertake—comprehensive monitoring and research of its operation to enable the Government to better understand the programme and to ensure that it is meeting the ho (sing related support needs of vulnerable people. This includes:

(a) continuing and regular monitoring of the effectiveness of the Supporting People programme on a variety of information including progress with reviews, contracting and the operation of the Commissioning Body. Data are collected from Administering Authorities on a quarterly basis and analysed, this helps us to ascertain if any authorities are struggling and what support they might need. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also now collecting and analysing data on a quarterly basis from Administering Authorities in relation to Supporting People key performance indicators.

(b) Undertaking research into the Supporting People programme. Research that has been published, or is due for publication includes: Value for Money analysis, Starfish. Published April 2003. Developing an Allocation Formula, Matrix MHA. Published April 2003 Support Needs of Homeless Households, Research and Information Services. Published December 2003 Review of the Supporting People Programme: Independent Report, RSM Robson Rhodes. Published February 2004 Review of development of policy and costs of housing related support, Matrix. Published March 2004 Analysis of local Supporting People shadow strategies, Leeds Metropolitan University. Published June 2004 Developing a Distribution Formula, Matrix MHA. Underway, due to complete October 2004. SP Benefits Realisation, Matrix. Due to be published Autumn 2004. Baseline User Survey, BMRB Social Research. Due for publication Autumn 2004. Service Packages Project, Matrix. Due to be published Autumn 2004. Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund Evaluation including Teenage Parent ADP evaluation, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol. Underway, due to complete 2006. Health pilots, University of Bristol. Underway, due to complete 2006.