APD cut is a bizarre priority
The Scottish Greens today (19 August) dismissed the call from think-tank Reform Scotland for the Scottish Government to bring forward proposals to cut and then scrap Air Passenger Duty.
Earlier this summer analysis of a consultation into the Scottish Government's plans showed that the majority of respondents were opposed to the idea.
Scottish Greens have long questioned the policy, and forced ministers to reveal that cutting the duty would increase air traffic and the associated harmful climate change emissions.
Reform Scotland's briefing on the topic doesn't mention climate or environment once.
Mark Ruskell MSP, Climate Change spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said:
“It’s a bizarre priority given the state of public finances for the Scottish Government to want to subsidise the airline industry so frequent flyers can leave Scotland more cheaply. The costs to the public purse and the environment are too great for an economic benefit which maybe marginal at best and at worse could undermine domestic tourism and rail.”