The Scottish Government has been urged to set out exactly how it will use new powers over Air Passenger Duty (APD).
For several years the SNP has said it wants control over the tax, and now that the Smith Commission has recommended its devolution, the Scottish Conservatives said it is now time to debate how that power is used.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, wants to see the duty abolished in order to boost tourism and enable Scotland’s airports to be more competitive.
Murdo urged ministers to set out their position as part of today’s Tourism – a Legacy From 2014 debate in the Scottish Parliament.
In the White Paper, the Scottish Government previously hinted a separate Scotland would have sought to reduce the levy by 50 per cent at some point in the next six years.
Scottish Conservative Tourism spokesman Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“It has not been possible to have a debate on tourism in recent years without APD being raised.
“We have frequently heard concern expressed from the industry that this is having an impact on the number of visitors to Scotland by air.
“We believe the rate of APD is holding back the growth of tourism in Scotland, and for that reason we welcome the Smith recommendation that APD will be devolved.
“Now we know that economic lever is coming to Holyrood, it’s time to move on from discussing whether or not we have the power, to how that power will actually be used.
“That’s why the Scottish Government must now set out its plans for APD.
“If it’s pernicious as the SNP has claimed, I assume that it will want to set out at a very early stage what its intentions are.
“The Scottish Government must now live up to the rhetoric of previous years.”