Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average period of time was taken to make repairs to a forces' accommodation property after a call out in the last period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg
I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Nick Harvey
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were employed at the Modern Housing Solutions helpdesk in Speke, Liverpool in each month since it was established.

Derek Twigg
The information requested is set out in the following table:

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|         |Number employed|
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|2005     |               |
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|July     |1.0            |
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|August   |2.0            |
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|September|2.0            |
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|October  |2.0            |
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|November |2.0            |
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|December |19.0           |
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|         |               |
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|2006     |               |
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|January  |63.0           |
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|February |68.5           |
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|March    |63.0           |
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|April    |85.0           |
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|May      |85.0           |
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|June     |98.5           |
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|July     |100.5          |
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|August   |113.0          |
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|September|122.0          |
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|October  |114.0          |
---------------------------
|November |102.5          |
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|December |113.0          |
---------------------------
|         |               |
---------------------------
|2007     |               |
---------------------------
|January  |108.0          |
---------------------------
|February |106.0          |
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|March    |99.0           |
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|April    |101.0          |
---------------------------
|May      |86.5           |
---------------------------
 

There was no specific “go-live” date for the helpdesk. The contract was dated 14 November 2005 and was rolled out on a regional basis from January 2006. Modern Housing Solutions built up the helpdesk during that period. Staff were in place before the contract was signed as MHS knew from April 2005 that it was the preferred bidder.

When MHS began delivering services, the number of calls received was higher than anticipated, requiring additional staff to be employed on the helpdesk. Over time, however, the need has reduced for these additional staff, resulting in a reduction in staff between April and May 2007.