Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 2 June to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North, (Mr. Howarth),Official Report, column 529, what is the nature and type of short-term steps that he is taking to provide assistance to those who find themselves in housing difficulty; and how many personnel have found themselves in housing difficulty.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI refer the hon. Member to a note entitled "Servicemen's Housing: The Work of the Housing Task Force", a copy of which is in the Library. As well as the measures detailed in this note, the joint service housing advice office was set up in May at Old Sarum to provide advice on a range of housing matters to service personnel. To date, 128 requests have been received for help or information.