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 and place in the Library of both Houses the Met Office Report on climatology and wind shear relating to St Helena airport, submitted in October 2014.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK Met Office report was commissioned by the St Helena Government. It is therefore their report. Information in this report, and more recent data on the climatology and wind shear, is provided by the airport operator to airlines and pilots when applying to fly into St Helena.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will decide whether the airport at St Helena will open to commercial traffic; what criteria will be used in making that decision; and when they expect the information necessary to make that decision to be available.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Following certification by the regulator, ASSI, in June, the airport is open to flights that meet the Category C conditions set out in the St Helena Government’s Aerodrome Information Publication; this is provided to all prospective airlines and their pilots. The wind conditions at the Airport preclude commercial services at this time. A decision on when commercial services can begin will be made once sufficient information is available to make a decision which reflects the paramount importance of safety.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the planned schedule for RMS St Helena for the next 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The current planned schedule for the RMS St Helena up to June 2017, which is available on the official RMS St Helena website, is attached for the convenience of the Noble Lord.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings they have had with councillors from St Helena about the provision of air services to the island.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Minister Duddridge discussed the provision of air services to St Helena with Councillor Lawson Henry in December 2015.
DFID officials work closely with the Governor of St Helena on all issues to do with air access to the island. The Governor is in regular direct contact with the Councillors on this issue.
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 reply by Baroness Verma on 27 June (HL Deb, cols 1358–59), when they plan to provide a briefing to members on transport services to St Helena.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Baroness Verma offered a briefing for Peers from DFID officials. Arrangements are being made for such a breifing to take place after the summer recess
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about transport services to St Helena.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Representations have been received from the Elected Councillors of the Legislative Council of St Helena as well as from a number of potential providers of a scheduled air service to St Helena.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the proposal by the Namibia Atlantic Aero Partnership for an air service from Namibia to St Helena.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The air service proposal from the Namibia Atlantic Aero Partnership has been assessed and was not considered a viable option.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to consider compensation claims from those who can prove they have incurred losses due to the delay in the St Helena airport becoming operational.
Answered by Baroness Verma
This is a matter for the St Helena Government and to our knowledge no claims for compensation have been received.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who was responsible for the delay in opening the St Helena airport for commercial air services.
Answered by Baroness Verma
The commencement of commercial air services into St Helena Airport has been delayed due to wind shear and turbulence identified on the northern approach. Wind shear is an unpredictable phenomenon experienced at a number of airports around the world.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to reinstate RMS St Helena for passenger services, and if so, when and for how long.
Answered by Baroness Verma
In order to retain access for the people of St Helena, the St Helena Government has extended the services of the RMS St Helena for a further period beyond its previously planned service end date of July 2016. This is until September 2016 in the first instance but will be kept under review.