Latest Press Releases
| MORAY MP WELCOMES APD DEVOLUTION BACKING FROM LEADING FIGURES |
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| Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00 |
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Moray’s MP Angus Robertson has welcomed the publication of an open letter by a group of leading North-east business and public sector figures to the Chancellor calling for devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to the Scottish Parliament.
The letter is endorsed by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, which represents Moray businesses, the LibDem Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, the SNP Leader of Aberdeen City Council, North-east Scotland SCDI, NESTRANS, BAA Aberdeen Airport, Aberdeen City & Shire Economic Futures and Eastern Airways. Commenting the SNP’s Angus Robertson said:: “ I have repeatedly emphasised the importance of air links to Moray’s economy and, indeed, the wider economies of the North & North East and Scotland as a whole. “ Transferring control over Air Passenger Duty to the Scottish Parliament would help significantly in tailoring critical air services to our needs. “ It is evident from the broad base of support for devolution of APD that this view is very widely held, including by the Chamber of Commerce which includes many major Moray businesses among its membership. “ The UK Government is proposing this change for Northern Ireland and the Treasury must surely recognise its refusal to devolve control to Scotland is unsustainable. “ There is overwhelming evidence for the devolution of APD with all four of Scotland’s largest airports backing the call and Transport Scotland saying ‘there is no good reason why passengers in Scotland should have to continue to travel in such numbers through other UK airports or should not benefit from levels of connectivity enjoyed in other parts of the UK’. “ Devolution of APD would enable us 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. It would also provide a substantial boost to the Scottish economy and create jobs.” |
