Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect on British citizens resident in Ascension Island of the delayed commencement of repair work to the Wideawake Airfield.

There has been no delay to the commencement of refurbishment of the runway at Wideawake Airfield which is due to start in 2018. The MOD continue to work with the US to agree the final design solution. Repairs are ongoing. In recent months the runway deteriorated far more quickly than had been anticipated. This made it unsafe for the heavier aircraft that had been flying regularly from the UK to land on Ascension. We recognise the impact this is having on those on the island and we are working hard to scope alternative air access options. The Minister for the Overseas Territories spoke to Ascension Island councillors to discuss this issue on Friday 7 July.