Meeting of the Parliament 03 June 2014
The result of the division is: For 62, Against 44, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament notes with concern the continuing prevarication of the UK Government in devolving control of air passenger duty (APD) despite the clear recommendation of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution in 2009, evidence of the damaging impact of the significant increases in APD since 2007 and the growing campaign for control for it to be devolved; further notes the APD changes that were announced in the 2014 UK Budget, which, from April 2015, will amend the existing four-band system and, as a consequence, reduce duty paid on journeys of more than 4,000 miles; further notes that, based on the international destinations currently served from Scotland’s airports, this will be of minimal immediate value to Scotland; believes that improving Scotland’s international air connectivity and the ability of its aviation sector to properly compete with global competitors is a matter that needs to be urgently addressed; considers that this would be assisted by control of APD being devolved, and believes that, in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum, the UK Government should devolve this as a matter of priority in order to enable the Scottish Government to progress the proposals contained in Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland to reduce APD by 50% in the first term of an independent Scottish Parliament and to seek to abolish it when public finances allow.