MSPs clash in APD debate
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Scotland’s MSPs clashed in a debate over Air Passenger Duty (APD) in Parliament today (3 June).
Scottish Conservatives have now proposed the tax be reduced but David Cameron has said this would require cross-party agreement, according to the Herald Scotland of the Holyrood meeting.
Labour’s Mark Griffin said his party is not yet convinced of being rid of APD, while Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to Chancellor George Osborne urging him to scrap APD in tomorrow’s Queen Speech.
The Scottish Government has proposed a 50% reduction in APD if it were to go independent.
Flybe welcomed the debate and joined the argument for abolishing the tax.
The airline’s chief executive Saad Hammad said: “We welcome today’s debate as an important step towards rectifying this taxation which places us, as a UK regional airline, at a competitive disadvantage and continues to damage Scotland’s aspirations for economic growth. Across the aviation industry, scrapping Air Passenger Duty would not only incentivise airlines to provide new routes and enhance travel for Scotland’s passengers, it would also significantly boost business and the economy.”
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