Latest Press Releases
| MORAY MP WELCOMES CHAMBER BACKING ON AIR PASSENGER DUTY CALLS |
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| Wednesday, 07 December 2011 00:00 |
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SNP URGE ACTION FROM UK GOVERNMENT Scottish National Party Westminster Leader and MP for Moray, Angus Robertson, has welcomed a call from the Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, urging the devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Scotland. Liz Cameron has described how “the tax should be devolved to allow the Scottish Government to set rates of APD appropriate to our economic needs and ambitions”. This adds to the same calls from the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, who represent some of Moray’s most prominent businesses, the LibDem Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, the Leader of Aberdeen City Council, North East Scotland SCDI, NESTRANS, BAA Aberdeen Airport, and Eastern Airways amongst others. In Westminster the SNP has been leading calls to have APD devolved and local Moray MP Mr Robertson says the tax is stifling opportunities for Moray and the wider North & North East economies. The SNP’s Angus Robertson MP said:: “ Pressure is mounting on the UK Government to devolve Air Passenger Duty, with support steadily growing for Scotland to have responsibility for this tax. “ Council leaders want it, business leaders want it, airports want it and airlines want it. The case cannot be any clearer that Moray and Scotland as a whole can benefit economically if we have control of this measure. “ There must be equality of treatment for Scotland following a cut in the rate of APD for direct long-haul passengers travelling from Northern Ireland – which is currently £12 in economy and £24 in business and first class. “ We need parity with Northern Ireland as it is completely hypocritical of the UK Government to make this move while leaving devolution of APD out of the Scotland Bill. “ The Treasury needs to sit up and listen to these calls and recognise its refusal to devolve control is extremely damaging to Scotland’s air industry. “ I have said previously that many Moray businesses rely on air traveller to communicate effectively with customers and to keep their businesses on the best footing. The strong support for this measure from organisations like the Chamber of Commerces is testament to that. “ There is overwhelming evidence and support for APD to be devolved. Scotland must be given all the tools to equip it to make the best decisions for our economic needs.” |
