Controversial plans to cut the amount of tax paid by passengers flying from Scottish airports have been scrapped after a backlash over the environmental impact. The Scottish government had wanted to reduce air departure tax by 50% before eventually abolishing it. But concerns were raised that the move could increase greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the number of flights. The government has now confirmed that the tax cut will not happen.
BBC 7th May 2019 read more »
The National 7th May 2019 read more »
Guardian 7th May 2019 read more »
FT 7th May 2019 read more »
Business leaders have accused the SNP government of cutting Scotland’s economy “off at the knees” after it dumped a flagship pledge to cut a flights tax. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce said the decision to abandon a long-promised cut to Air Passenger Duty (APD) would have a “have a significant and deleterious impact on the Scottish economy.” Liz Cameron, the trade body’s chief executive, said Scotland’s ability to trade internationally after Brexit would be hampered “where the need to boost our exports has never been greater.” In a scathing riposte to the government’s claim the move was needed to meet climate change targets, she said it would “do nothing” to cut carbon emissions.
Telegraph 7th May 2019 read more »
Scotsman 7th May 2019 read more »
Herald 7th May 2019 read more »
When Nicola Sturgeon declared a ‘Climate Emergency’ at the SNP conference, it sounded great, but what did it really mean in practice, asks Dr Richard Dixon. People are dying and livelihoods are being destroyed, and the world is heading for catastrophe if we do not get a grip on climate emissions. Emergency is exactly the right word. What do you do in a national emergency? You probably get the right people together. You marshal your resources. You rapidly examine options old and new. You stop doing the things that make the situation worse. You start doing things that will make it better.
Scotsman 7th May 2019 read more »
