Recommendations & Conclusions
12 items
1
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
The purchase and funding provided to Glasgow Prestwick Airport represents significant issues for the taxpayer. Additionally, the funding received by Glasgow Prestwick Airport from the Scottish Government has ensured there is not a level playing field across airports in Scotland, leading to a distortion in the market. It would have …
Government response. 2021. However, it is a long-standing policy that air passengers should fund the cost of their travel, including the costs of changes to airspace structure, rather than being subsidised by the taxpayer. The funding packages were provided on an exceptional …
Scotland Office
2
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Aviation connectivity from isolated communities in Scotland is a necessity. Lifeline services are essential for the transport of essential supplies, for the movement of people for medical appointments and key personnel in the energy industry as well as to support a thriving business community and to grow international exports from …
Government response. Government’s response: The UK Government shares the Committees view on the importance of good and proactive communication with the devolved administrations. We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted airports across the UK and we will continue to work …
Scotland Office
3
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
The airspace modernisation programme has the potential to benefit the whole of the UK by making journey times quicker, quieter, and helping to reduce carbon emissions from aviation. We are concerned that this programme, that can offer significant environmental benefits, is at risk of collapse if it is not properly …
Government response. This Government values the important role the aviation sector has in the UK, and recognises that maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector is of the upmost importance to the UK, delivering essential connectivity, supporting levelling up and strengthening the …
Scotland Office
4
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We are convinced that a UK Government-led recovery plan for airports is urgently needed. The paused strategic framework that is being developed by the Department for Transport for the aviation industry to help them recover from the impact of the covid pandemic needs to be published as soon as possible. …
Government response. This Government values the important role the aviation sector has in the UK, and recognises that maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector is of the upmost importance to the UK, delivering essential connectivity, supporting levelling up and strengthening the …
Scotland Office
5
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We recommend that the UK Government’s strategic framework for aviation recovery should include: • How airports in Scotland can increase their passenger numbers and grow their businesses whilst meeting net zero targets and using greener methods of operating; • How airports in Scotland can continue to deliver current connectivity and …
Government response. This Government values the important role the aviation sector has in the UK, and recognises that maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector is of the upmost importance to the UK, delivering essential connectivity, supporting levelling up and strengthening the …
Scotland Office
6
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
During the pandemic, the differing policy choices of the Scottish and UK Government had an effect on the financial stability of airports in Scotland as these policies did not always align. Edinburgh Airport maintained that the Scottish Government’s overly cautious approach was confusing for passengers and did not provide the …
Government response. The UK Government shares the Committees view on the importance of good and proactive communication with the devolved administrations. We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted airports across the UK and we will continue to work in partnership …
Scotland Office
7
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We welcome the publishing of the Intergovernmental Review on 13 January 2022 and we look forward to seeing how interministerial groups will work together to consider how their separate policies will interact with each other in the future, particularly should another pandemic arise. Respect of devolved competencies must continue but …
Government response. The UK Government shares the Committees view on the importance of good and proactive communication with the devolved administrations. We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted airports across the UK and we will continue to work in partnership …
Scotland Office
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We recommend that the interministerial group on transport produce a report within the next six months outlining the steps they will take to improve communications between devolved nations around the timings of travel restrictions. It should investigate how to develop new communication processes that respect devolved competencies and explore where …
Government response. The UK Government shares the Committees view on the importance of good and proactive communication with the devolved administrations. We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted airports across the UK and we will continue to work in partnership …
Scotland Office
9
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Now that we have left the European Union, the Scottish Government and the UK Government should work together to resolve any legal issues around the Highlands and Islands exemption as quickly as possible. This will allow for the Scottish Government to alter ADT rates to reach policy goals of better …
Scotland Office
10
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We received limited submissions about ringfencing the funds raised by Air Passenger Duty for environmental purposes. However, we consider the issue to be worth further investigation.
Government response. Government’s response: Air Passenger Duty (APD) is the Government’s principal tax on the aviation sector since tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. Its primary objective is to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the …
Scotland Office
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We recommend that the UK Government investigate how money raised from Air Passenger Duty could be used for environmental purposes and report the results of this investigation to the House by the end of 2022.
Government response. Government’s response: Air Passenger Duty (APD) is the Government’s principal tax on the aviation sector since tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. Its primary objective is to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the …
Scotland Office
12
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Scottish Airports told us that they welcomed the reduction in Air Passenger Duty but would like to have seen this take place in 2022 rather than waiting for its introduction in 2023. However, we recognise the operational issues that carriers would have experienced due to length of time it takes …
Government response. The Government has already introduced a package of APD reforms that will bolster air connectivity within the Union with a 50% cut in domestic APD, which will particularly benefit regional airports who tend to account for a greater proportion of …
Scotland Office