Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress has been made on the reconstruction of the runway on Ascension Island.
Answered by James Duddridge
The reconstruction of the Ascension Island runway is a critical project which will help secure future access to the island. The project, jointly funded by the UK and the United States, is an important priority for the UK Government and is being completed in two halves, with the runway operating at fifty percent capacity throughout the project. Contractors are currently on the island and have started construction works. The estimated runway completion date is late 2022.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the resurfacing of the runway on Ascension Island.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The US Air Force Civil Engineering Centre are expecting tender returns in August 2019 from which the contract will be awarded in the final quarter of 2019.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 11 January 2019 to Question 59581 on Ascension Island: Aviation, whether best biosecurity industry standards have now been made a condition of the runway resurfacing project on Ascension Island.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Yes.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2035 on Ascension Island: Airports, whether a timetable of works has been agreed with the US Department of Defense and the US Department of State on their plans for interim repair work and a full resurfacing programme of Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence continues to liaise closely with the US Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State regarding their plans for interim repair work and a full surface resurfacing programme. The DOD's intent is to reward a developing resurfacing contract in late 2019 with an expectation the work will take 24 months.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to ask the US Air Force to speed up repairs of the runway on Ascension Island.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Ministry of Defence officials are working closely with the US Air Force to ensure the effective delivery of a full runway resurface on Ascension Island. The isolated and remote location of Ascension Island creates a number of logistical challenges for such a large scale infrastructure project, but I am confident the project will be delivered in a timely manner and to the highest of standards.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department is making on improving communications with the Department for International Development on matters relating to the British Overseas Territories of St Helena and Ascension Island airports.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Cross-Government working is the norm and there is regular engagement between Departments on the British Overseas Territories.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate access to and from Ascension Island for (a) civilians and (b) military personnel during the Ascension Island runway resurfacing programme.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working closely with the US Department of Defense, who own and operate the Ascension Island runway, to ensure continued access to the Islands during the runway resurfacing programme. The MOD will ensure during this time that a mechanism is in place for UK Defence personnel to access the island in support of MOD business.
Civilian access is overseen by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ascension Island Government. Access to the island for civilians is currently available through the commercial air link provided by South African Airlink from Cape Town via St Helena.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress is being made with repairs to the runway on Ascension Island.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The runway on Ascension Island is owned and operated by the US Department of Defense (DOD) who are responsible for the full resurfacing programme. The programme is due for completion in 2020.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the repair of the runway on Ascension Island; and which Minister of his Department has responsibility for that project.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Secretary of State for Defence is working closely with the US to ensure the Ascension Island runway is repaired. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government why repairs at Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island cannot be completed for two or three years.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The two mile runway at Wideawake Airfield requires a full-depth resurfacing. The runway is owned and operated by the US Air Force under the Bahamas Agreement. Therefore, they are responsible for the design, management and delivery of the resurfacing project. The design phase is already underway but Ascension's isolated location and the complexity of these repairs mean works are not expected to be completed until 2020.