A 50 per cent cut in APD for Scotland has been backed by the Scottish Parliament’s finance committee, but has called for more evidence on the economic, social, financial and environmental impacts of the proposals.
Holyrood's Finance and Constitution Committee says the evidence must be made available to Parliament before MSPs are asked to set the tax rates and bands for flights departing from Scottish airports.
The committee has also recommended that the Finance Minister commissions an independent economic impact analysis on the government’s proposed policy of a 50 per cent reduction in APD tax by the end of the parliamentary session.
Finance and Constitution Committee convener, Bruce Crawford MSP said: "The Finance Committee recognises that the Air Departure Tax Bill is an enabling Bill.
“Nevertheless, we are disappointed by the government’s lack of information on exemptions to the tax, and on the economic, social, financial and environmental impacts that will result from a 50 per cent reduction in ADT.
“The Committee considers it essential, therefore, that evidence of these impacts, to support the Government’s policy approach, must be made available in good time to allow for parliamentary scrutiny.”
The stage 1 debate on the Bill is likely to take place after Easter. If the Bill is passed by Parliament, the first rates and bands for the tax are likely to be considered by MSPs after the summer recess.
The full report can be found here