Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee

Conclusion 10

Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland Published 22 Mar 2022 Paragraph 54 Addressed to Scotland Office
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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.

From: Scottish Affairs Committee, Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland (HC 601), paragraph 54, 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.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error