§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the £26.3 million previously committed by the British Government towards the building of an airport on St. Helena and if he will make a statement. [170215]
Mr. Gareth ThomasIt was included, as a possible DFID contribution, in last year's international invitation for possible private sector participation in developing air access for St. Helena. I announced on 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 1WS, that none of the responses offered a basis upon which, with DFID 57W financial assistance as described in the invitation, DFID might enter negotiations. Instead, we are now investigating and costing all options to follow expected withdrawal of the present ship from service by around the turn of the decade, including possible development of air access through alternative arrangements. A specialist team will arrive on the island later this week to progress this work and to initiate geo-technical investigations on a possible airport site.