Question
8. What discussions her Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving access to suitable accommodation for vulnerable households.
Answer
Responsibility for supported accommodation in Northern Ireland is devolved, as the hon. Gentleman knows. In England we are implementing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 to strengthen local oversight, improve quality and ensure that councils assess local needs, and we will continue to work with our devolved Governments.
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The reply only partly answers the question. It acknowledges that supported accommodation in Northern Ireland is devolved and says the department will keep working with devolved governments, but it does not describe any actual engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive on access to accommodation. The concrete detail it gives, such as the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, applies only to England. A member of the public would likely need to ask again for specifics on Northern Ireland.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the nature of the department's engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving access to suitable accommodation for vulnerable households. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply acknowledges that supported accommodation in Northern Ireland is devolved and says the department will continue to work with devolved Governments, which gestures at the nature of engagement. However, it gives no concrete description of any actual engagement with the NI Executive on access to accommodation, and the substantive detail it offers (the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, local oversight) concerns England only. |