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Written Question
Department for International Development: Allowances
Friday 23rd November 2018

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what allowance is paid to Department for International Development officials based in Abercrombie House, East Kilbride, when they are required to stay overnight in London in connection with their work.

Answered by Lord Bates

DFID employees do not receive an allowance. DFID employees undertaking a duty visit in London and require hotel accommodation have a rate cap of £115 room only or a 1st class berth on a sleeper train. A breakfast allowance of up to £15 and reimbursement of reasonable spend for meals.


Written Question

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Wednesday 12th July 2017

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of maintaining the RMS St Helena since May 2016.

Answered by Lord Bates

St Helena Line, the company who operate the RMS St Helena, has confirmed the estimated cost of maintaining the RMS St Helena since May 2016 is £916,000.


Written Question

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Tuesday 11th July 2017

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

Her Majesty's Government when they expect the contract between the government of St Helena and SA Airlink, providing a new passenger air service, to be signed.

Answered by Lord Bates

The tender process is managed by the St Helena Government. On 9 June, the St Helena Government announced that SA Airlink had been chosen as the preferred bidder for the provision of a scheduled commercial air service to St Helena. A formal announcement on the contract award will be made once contract negotiations are complete.


Written Question

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Tuesday 11th July 2017

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

Her Majesty's Government what requests have been made to SA Airlink in order to understand fully its business projection for the new passenger air service to St Helena.

Answered by Lord Bates

The process to procure an air service for St Helena is managed by the St Helena government and is ongoing. As part of that process, bidders were required to submit details of their business projections.


Written Question
St Helena: Airports
Monday 17th October 2016

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 25 July (HL1170), who is responsible for arranging the promised meeting to brief members of the House on the airport at St Helena, and when it is expected to be held.

Answered by Lord Bates

DFID are holding a briefing meeting for all interested peers on St Helena airport on 25 October, between 13:00 and 14:00 in Room 10a (House of Lords). Invitations were issued on 5 October.


Written Question
St Helena: Airports
Monday 17th October 2016

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what compensation claims have been received by the government of St Helena as a result of the delay in opening the airport to commercial traffic, and how those claims are being dealt with.

Answered by Lord Bates

As far as we are aware, the St Helena Government has not received any claims for compensation following the identification of wind shear at St Helena Airport.


Written Question
St Helena: Aviation
Friday 16th September 2016

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place with Comair, the preferred bidder for commercial air services to St Helena, and with what outcome.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The current contract for air services is between the St Helena Government and Comair. Comair remain engaged in discussions about flying to St Helena when the time is right.


Written Question
St Helena: Airports
Friday 16th September 2016

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what enquiries they have received regarding compensation claims arising from the delay in the opening of St Helena airport to commercial traffic, and what response they have given.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Enquiries from claimants seeking compensation is a matter for the St Helena Government. DFID has not received any claims for compensation related to the St Helena Airport.


Written Question
St Helena: Airports
Friday 16th September 2016

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what detailed research was carried out into potential problems with the proposed airport at St Helena before the contract was signed in 2011, and what were the results of that research.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

A detailed Feasibility Study was undertaken in 2004. This study looked at a wide range of issues associated with the development of the airport.


Written Question
St Helena: Airports
Friday 16th September 2016

Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish all representations they have received following the delay in opening the airport at St Helena to commercial traffic.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The St Helena Government, supported by DFID, is in discussions with a number of possible air service providers. On commercial grounds, it would not be appropriate to publish the representations at this time