Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is providing assistance to help reduce freight costs to St Helena.

The UK Government funded a new airport on St Helena (completed in 2016) to facilitate the transport of both passengers and freight. The UK will also provide up to £33.06 million of financial aid in 2023/24 to support the delivery of public services and access to the island, including any St Helena Government support towards shipping costs. A further £30 million is being provided between 2019-2026 for infrastructure development, including new port facilities that will facilitate better shipping services. The St Helena Government is responsible for the island's freight services and is in the process of tendering a new shipping contract.