Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks made by the United Nations’ poverty expert that (1) their response to COVID-19 has been “utterly hypocritical”, and (2) “the pandemic could push more than half a billion people into poverty globally”.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
COVID-19 is the biggest threat this country has faced in a generation – and we are not alone. All over the world we are seeing the devastating impacts of this pandemic – to global health, economies and also more broadly. The UK is a global leader in supporting international efforts in the COVID-19 response, having already pledged £744 million in UK aid. The UK Government is taking decisive and co-ordinated action based on the science and evidence, to mitigate COVID-19’s primary and secondary impacts, both in the UK and in support of the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries.
The UK Government’s domestic package of support in response to COVID-19 is one of the largest in the world. It provides a cash investment of £7 billion into the welfare system alone to support UK citizens through the current crisis – the biggest ever in Universal Credit.
The UK is also using its foreign aid budget and British expertise to stop the spread of COVID-19 internationally, build resilience in vulnerable countries, find a vaccine, new drugs and therapeutics as well as support the economic response. We are helping to prevent the poorest countries – which represent a quarter of the world’s population - from collapse by supporting their economies and access to skills and education.
By preventing the virus from spreading in the poorest countries, we will save millions of lives and reduce the risk of future waves of infection that could come to the UK.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suspension of the capital programme and funding for St Helena, particularly in respect of its residents' (1) employment, (2) disposable income, and (3) standard of living, and of the Island's progress towards expanding its tourism-based economy.
Answered by Lord Bates
DFID has not suspended a capital programme. The most recent capital programme concluded in March 2018 and DFID is exploring options for a new programme. Financial aid has increased over the last 5 years and contributes more directly to indicators affecting well-being on the island including public sector wages, health and education.
The St Helena Government has recently published a household expenditure survey, and will soon launch a business and employment survey which will provide more information on disposable income and employment. The average annual incomes of residents after taking into account inflation has risen steadily between 2012/13 and 2016/17 and household expenditures show only modest increases of 16% over the last 8 years.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of current and projected price increases in St Helena on (1) its employment levels, (2) the disposable income of its residents, and (3) living standards.
Answered by Lord Bates
The St Helena Government regularly publishes statistical information including detail from their latest household expenditure survey. The statistics show (1) the number claiming unemployment benefit over the last 2 years has varied on a monthly basis from a low of 5 in October 2017, to a high of 21 in July 2017, the current number of claimants is 19, (2) real average annual incomes have increased by 3.4% since 2012/13 and (3); household expenditures increased by 16% over the last 8 years.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether British residents in receipt of pensions in St Helena are experiencing difficulties in obtaining and returning the required Pension Life Certificates and, as a result, having pension payments suspended.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK Government is aware that around 90 individuals with British pensions have been affected or will be affected by the difficulties in obtaining and returning their Pension Life Certificates. The St Helena Governor’s Office is assisting those affected by facilitating calls to the Department for Work and Pensions and any pensioner experiencing financial distress can contact St Helena Government for short-term financial support.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they have, if any, that indicates that the building of an airport in St Helena will improve the island's economy and improve residents' standard of living.
Answered by Lord Bates
St Helena Airport provides quicker, more regular access to St Helena. It was built to stimulate St Helena’s economy through increased tourist numbers. A journey which previously took six days now takes six hours. The air service has already carried over 4,000 passengers to and from St Helena. The airport brings other benefits such as quicker access to healthcare for those living on the island. The air service has been operating for less than a year and there is not yet enough data to robustly assess the impact air access is having on the island’s economy.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) increases in the number of tourists visiting St Helena, and (2) monetary benefit to the island’s economy arising from tourism they have identified since weekly scheduled flights began in October 2017.
Answered by Lord Bates
St Helena Airport provides quicker, more regular access to St Helena. It was built to stimulate St Helena’s economy through increased tourist numbers. A journey which previously took six days now takes six hours. The air service has already carried over 4,000 passengers to and from St Helena. The airport brings other benefits such as quicker access to healthcare for those living on the island. The air service has been operating for less than a year and there is not yet enough data to robustly assess the impact air access is having on the island’s economy.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial benefit St Helena has so far gained from the weekly scheduled flights which began in October 2017.
Answered by Lord Bates
St Helena Airport provides quicker, more regular access to St Helena. It was built to stimulate St Helena’s economy through increased tourist numbers. A journey which previously took six days now takes six hours. The air service has already carried over 4,000 passengers to and from St Helena. The airport brings other benefits such as quicker access to healthcare for those living on the island. The air service has been operating for less than a year and there is not yet enough data to robustly assess the impact air access is having on the island’s economy.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what benefits exist for the economy of St Helena from the withdrawal of the shipping subsidy and reductions in the utilities subsidy.
Answered by Lord Bates
The shipping subsidy paid by the UK Government covered the operating losses incurred by the RMS St Helena until its decommissioning in February 2018. It was a long standing agreement between the UK and St Helena Governments that sea freight would not be subsidised following the introduction of air services. The St Helena Government has confirmed plans to increase, not decrease, the subsidy it provides to cover costs of delivering utilities to consumers.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the second flight each week to St Helena to commence.
Answered by Lord Bates
Twice weekly commercial flights to St Helena for the 2018/19 peak visitor season are scheduled to commence on Tuesday 4 December 2018.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possible impact on the running of the airport on St Helena of the current operators of the airport, Basil Read, voluntarily entering a Business Rescue process; and what contingency plans they are developing to maintain operation of the airport.
Answered by Lord Bates
We are confident that air services to St Helena will not be affected in the short term as Basil Read Ltd pursues a business rescue process. Alongside the St Helena Government, we will ensure alternative plans are available to continue airport operations in the event that they become necessary.