UK WORLD’S WORST FOR FLIGHT TAXES SHOWS SCOTLAND’S NEED FOR APD POWERS
GERS FIGURES REVEAL SCOTLAND IS PAYING MORE THAN ITS PER CAPITA SHARE IN APD
The Scottish National Party has said Scotland needs powers over Air Passenger Duty now more than ever after the World Economic Forum (WEF) report showed the UK has the highest aviation taxes in the world.
The report comes a day after the publication of the Government Expenditure and Revenues Scotland (GERS) which revealed Scotland is estimated to have accounted for 9.3 per cent of UK APD receipts in 2007-08, higher than its per capita share.
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Keir, whose constituency Edinburgh Western includes Edinburgh Airport, said:
“The WEF report showing the UK has the highest aviation taxes in the world is yet further evidence of how Westminster is not working for Scotland.
“There has been a historic imbalance in UK aviation policy that has held back Scottish airports and the development of direct international links.
“The GERS figures yesterday showed Scotland contributed more than our per capita share on APD receipts – just as Scotland’s overall finances are stronger than the UK’s as a whole to the tune of £824 per person.
“The best interests of Scottish air passengers are not being served by Westminster control. That is clear in the GERS figures that show since 2007-08, when Westminster restructured APD, imposing higher duty on long distance flights, there was an 8.1% decline in receipts.
“Devolution of APD would enable the Scottish Government to incentivise airlines to provide new direct international routes, providing Scotland’s passengers with enhanced options as they go about their business more freely and more effectively.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
