ALLAN WELCOMES AIR PASSANGER DUTY INDEPENDENCE PLANS

Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today welcomed the Scottish Government’s plans, set out in its independence white paper to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) by up to 50% with the powers of an independent Scotland, with a view to abolishing it completely in the future.

Alasdair Allan said:

“This proposal will not only allow Scotland’s airports to be more competitive in attracting new direct air routes, cut holiday costs, and increase tourism to Scotland. It will also provide some much needed relief to islanders who already face high travel costs to travel to the mainland.

“Scotland is penalised under the current system – APD has sky-rocketed in recent years. Now the onus is very much on the No campaign to make clear exactly what Westminster is offering to Scotland’s air passengers after independence.

“George Osborne’s autumn statement confirms there will be no let up and that Scots are now forced to pay even more in APD after the UK Government confirmed that the tax would rise for the sixth time in as many years.

“If Scotland had powers to set our own APD rates we could give our aviation industry and travellers a better and fairer deal, and businesses a competitive tax regime which is more in line with mainland European nations. It is clear that this can only be delivered with a Yes vote next September.”
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