Housing options (PREVENT1) statistics in Scotland: 2021 to 2022

Notes

All tables and charts in this publication are available in electronic format at the supporting documents webpage.

These statistics are based on administrative data collected by local authorities while carrying out their Housing Options duties. The data is collected from local authorities and quality assured by the Scottish Government on a quarterly basis. Details about the data we collect, our quality assurance process, and how we engage with users to improve our statistics are outlined in our quality assurance statement.

The data specification for the Housing Options (PREVENT1) statistics is available on our data provider information page.

Known issues with the data

South Lanarkshire has not been able to provide case level data for 2019/20, 2020/21 or 2021/22 due to technical issues. As a result, we have not been able to carry out our usual level of quality assurance checks for South Lanarkshire’s data.

For 2019/20 and 2020/21, South Lanarkshire provided aggregate level data to be incorporated into the tables accompanying this publication. No data at all has been provided for 2021/22 and aggregate data for 2020/21 has therefore been carried forward.

However, the 2020/21 data contained a discrepancy of 260, which therefore persists for the 2021/22 figures. The number of approaches (973) differs from the number for ‘type of prevention activity’ (713) and we have been unable to confirm with South Lanarkshire which of these is the correct figure. Additionally, we cannot confirm whether the total activities (2,395) are related to the 973 or 713 figure. This uncertainty affects all tables within the publication.

Midlothian and North Lanarkshire have reported systems issues which has led to a number of cases not being appropriately closed. This has artificially increased the number of open cases in these local authorities.

Legislation

Local Authorities can use Housing Options as a means of delivering their duty under section 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

To note: the provision of Housing Options services is not a statutory duty.

Guidance to help Local Authority officers to record information is available on our data provider information page.

An Official Statistics publication for Scotland – Experimental statistics

Official and National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Both undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and are produced free from any political interference. These statistics are classified as experimental due to their volatility and known quality concerns (as outlined above). However, there is a user need for these statistics which is why they are published (with clear notes about their limitations).

Correspondence and enquiries

For enquiries about this publication please contact:

Homelessness Statistics and Analysis,

Telephone: 0131 244 8502

e-mail: homelessness_statistics_inbox@gov.scot

For general enquiries about Scottish Government statistics please contact:

Office of the Chief Statistician, Telephone: 0131 244 0442,

e-mail: statistics.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

How to access background or source data

The data collected for this statistical bulletin:

☐ are available in more detail through Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics

☒ are available via an alternative route. Summary tables can be found at the supporting documents webpage.

☒ may be made available on request, subject to consideration of legal and ethical factors. Please contact homelessness_statistics_inbox@gov.scot for further information.

☐ cannot be made available by Scottish Government for further analysis as Scottish Government is not the data controller.

Complaints and suggestions

If you are not satisfied with our service or have any comments or suggestions, please write to the Chief Statistician, 3WR, St Andrews House, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG, Telephone: (0131) 244 0302, e-mail statistics.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Alternatively, you can fill out the Scottish Government official statistics feedback survey.

If you would like to be consulted about statistical collections or receive notification of publications, please register your interest at ScotStat.

Details of forthcoming publications can be found on our website.

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You may use or re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence.