Summer Budget and APD – BATA Response

July 8th, 2015

Responding to today’s Summer Budget, Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), said:

“By failing to properly address the damaging impact of APD in the Budget, the Government has missed a big opportunity to boost trade, tourism and competitiveness. This is disappointing when detailed independent economic analysis suggests that its abolition could increase economic growth, create up to 61,000 jobs, and pay for itself through higher revenues from other taxes.

“With the Scottish Government committed to halving APD following devolution of the tax, followed by full abolition, the status quo is going to become economically and politically unsustainable. Indeed, the Treasury has also today published a ‘discussion paper’ looking at possible responses in England to devolution of APD. The scope is too narrow and the three options for discussion are fundamentally flawed. The Treasury must also consider a significant reduction and abolition of APD across the UK if this review of options is to be credible.“

ENDS

8 July 2015