Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the announcement that some railway lines closed in 1963 will be reopened, (1) how much track mileage is to be re-opened for passenger traffic on lines presently in place or used only for freight; (2) how much track mileage is to be re-opened for passenger traffic where track has been removed; and (3) how many stations are to be re-opened on lines presently used for passengers, in the next (a) five, and (b) 10, years.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The volume of railway lines and stations that will be re-opened through the £500m investment, being made during this Government and in subsequent years, will depend on the costs and value for money of qualifying schemes. The Secretary of State is inviting MPs to work with local authorities and community groups to come forward with proposals to explore.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport on 29 November that the Stagecoach–Virgin partnership would cease to operate the East Coast Rail franchise in 2020, whether they expect that the commitments in the original franchise that were due to be met before 2020 will continue to be met; and in particular, whether they expect (1) direct services from Middlesbrough to London, (2) two-hourly direct weekday services between Bradford, Harrogate, Lincoln and London, and (3) new direct peak-time services between Huddersfield and London, to be established by May 2019.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are in discussions with Stagecoach to ensure the needs of passengers and taxpayers will be met in the short term whilst laying the foundations for introduction of the East Coast Partnership from 2020.
We expect to provide additional services between Lincoln, Harrogate, Bradford and London from May 2019. It remains our intention to deliver additional services to Middlesbrough and Huddersfield. Virgin Trains East Coast has contingent rights to run services from London to Middlesbrough from May 2020 and firm rights from May 2021.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the statement in their policy paper, <i>2010 to 2015 government policy: UK Overseas Territories</i>, that the reasonable assistance needs of overseas territories "are a first call on the UK’s international development budget", why the St Helena Council had not been informed, as of 30 March, how much its annual revenue support grant for 2017–18 will be; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the timing of the funding decision on the ability of the Council to make financial plans.
Answered by Lord Bates
The process to determine the level of UK Government financial support to St Helena for 2017/18 has followed standard DFID procedures. It began during November 2016 when the St Helena Government (SHG) provided budget forecasts and DFID officials visited the island for intense discussions of the budget proposals. Elected Members took an active role throughout these discussions.
A revised budget from SHG in January provided more detailed and prioritised spending projections. Following internal quality assurance Ministers approved the level of DFID’s contribution to the budget on 30 March 2017. This approval was relayed to SHG Officials on 31 March.
Throughout the process DFID officials were in regular contact with their SHG counterparts. Financial Aid makes an important contribution to the long term growth and development of St Helena.
The UK Government has a duty to ensure value for taxpayers’ money as it meets its international commitments.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, when determining the annual revenue support grant to be allocated to St Helena, how much time is given to the St Helena Council to consider the local taxation that it will need to raise; and what representations they have received regarding the adequacy of the length of time given.
Answered by Lord Bates
The process to determine the level of UK Government financial support to St Helena for 2017/18 has followed standard DFID procedures. It began during November 2016 when the St Helena Government (SHG) provided budget forecasts and DFID officials visited the island for intense discussions of the budget proposals. Elected Members took an active role throughout these discussions.
A revised budget from SHG in January provided more detailed and prioritised spending projections. Following internal quality assurance Ministers approved the level of DFID’s contribution to the budget on 30 March 2017. This approval was relayed to SHG Officials on 31 March.
Throughout the process DFID officials were in regular contact with their SHG counterparts. Financial Aid makes an important contribution to the long term growth and development of St Helena.
The UK Government has a duty to ensure value for taxpayers’ money as it meets its international commitments.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultation and engagement they have with members of the St Helena Council prior to decisions being made on the amount of UK Government support which will be provided for the forthcoming financial year.
Answered by Lord Bates
The process to determine the level of UK Government financial support to St Helena for 2017/18 has followed standard DFID procedures. It began during November 2016 when the St Helena Government (SHG) provided budget forecasts and DFID officials visited the island for intense discussions of the budget proposals. Elected Members took an active role throughout these discussions.
A revised budget from SHG in January provided more detailed and prioritised spending projections. Following internal quality assurance Ministers approved the level of DFID’s contribution to the budget on 30 March 2017. This approval was relayed to SHG Officials on 31 March.
Throughout the process DFID officials were in regular contact with their SHG counterparts. Financial Aid makes an important contribution to the long term growth and development of St Helena.
The UK Government has a duty to ensure value for taxpayers’ money as it meets its international commitments.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the process by which they determine the level of the annual revenue support grant to St Helena.
Answered by Lord Bates
The process to determine the level of UK Government financial support to St Helena for 2017/18 has followed standard DFID procedures. It began during November 2016 when the St Helena Government (SHG) provided budget forecasts and DFID officials visited the island for intense discussions of the budget proposals. Elected Members took an active role throughout these discussions.
A revised budget from SHG in January provided more detailed and prioritised spending projections. Following internal quality assurance Ministers approved the level of DFID’s contribution to the budget on 30 March 2017. This approval was relayed to SHG Officials on 31 March.
Throughout the process DFID officials were in regular contact with their SHG counterparts. Financial Aid makes an important contribution to the long term growth and development of St Helena.
The UK Government has a duty to ensure value for taxpayers’ money as it meets its international commitments.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they have undertaken as a direct consequence of the recommendations and observations regarding operational limitations set out in paragraphs 7.57–7.82 and 13.133 of the 2005 report by Atkins Management Consultants <i>St Helena Access Feasibility Study: Final Report</i>.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The operational limitations set out in paragraphs 7.57 to 7.67 of the Atkins’ Feasibility Study refer to work undertaken to assess the feasibility of a 1,400 m landing runway. This option was not adopted and the St Helena Airport has landing runways of 1,550 m from the north, and 1,535 m from the south. This addresses the limitation referred to. With regard to cargo provision, the proposed Comair flights were to have carried a minimum of one tonne of air freight, and the St Helena Government has already entered into a contract for sea freight on a commercial basis.
Paragraphs 7.68 to 7.81 concern the procurement of an air service which was undertaken through competitive tender in 2014 and resulted in the appointment of Comair to provide scheduled services.
Paragraphs 7.82 and 13.113 both refer to the requirement for flight trials to be carried out. Flight trials were undertaken on 2 May 2007 and concluded that turbulence at the North and South ends of the runway was acceptable.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that, when a Saturday air service begins to operate between Johannesburg and St Helena, those flights will provide connections with flights between South Africa and the UK that avoid an overnight stay in Johannesburg.
Answered by Baroness Verma
Based on the currently proposed schedule for regular flights between Johannesburg and St Helena, these will permit onward flight connections to and from the UK with a reasonable transfer time and which should not require overnight stays in Johannesburg in either direction.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the delay in opening the new airport on St Helena, whether the ship RMS St Helena will continue to operate beyond the advertised finishing date of 15 July.
Answered by Baroness Verma
DFID is currently in discussion with the St Helena Government to finalise arrangements for the extension of the RMS St Helena beyond July 2016.
Asked by: Lord Shutt of Greetland (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they now expect the new airport on St Helena to be opened.
Answered by Baroness Verma
There is no confirmed date for the commencement of scheduled services into St Helena airport. DFID is working closely with all interested parties to open the airport as soon as possible.