Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Conclusion 6
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Published 22 Mar 2022
Paragraph 44
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee Airports in Scotland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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 intended health benefits for those travelling via Scottish airports. It was widely known that people living in Scotland travelled to England to fly out of the UK, which meant reduced passenger numbers and revenue for Scottish airports. The Scottish Government’s stricter approach brought severe difficulties for Scottish airports and people in Scotland.
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland (HC 601), paragraph 44, 22 March 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 15 June 2022 (deadline 22 May 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds to the report by agreeing on the need for sustainable aviation growth and improved communication with devolved administrations, while stating that one recommendation "cannot, however, be fully endorsed".
- On the strategic framework, it supports continued growth in aviation over the next 30 years and agrees with the committee that this growth "must be sustainable". It is "aiming to publish the Jet Zero Strategy later this year".
- On the Airspace Modernisation Programme, it agrees that it is a critical national infrastructure project and has announced a further £3.7 million. It says sponsors "are expected to resume responsibility for funding further stages", citing the "user pays principle".
- On regional connectivity, it "will consider whether there are further opportunities to utilise PSOs" and is "carefully considering" how to take forward the Union Connectivity Review.
- On Air Passenger Duty, it states that APD "is not a hypothecated tax" and does not commit to the requested investigation or report.