Scott will fight Air Discount Scheme change (North East and Central Fife Liberal Democrats)

North East and Central Fife Liberal Democrats <hq@necflibdems.org.uk>

Scott will fight Air Discount Scheme change

December 14, 2010 8:54 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

SNP Government plans to cut the Air Discount Scheme (ADS) for Isles business travellers will be opposed by Shetland MSP Tavish Scott.

The Scottish Government's detailed Draft Budget for 2011-12 shows that support for air services next year is to fall from this year's £10.1m to £8.7m. The budget document states that the Government will, "subject to completion of a review of the scheme and subsequent notification to the European Commission, continue to fund the ADS, while removing business-related travel claims from the scheme."

Tavish Scott is asking the new Transport Minister, Keith Brown, how this change can be justified, how it will work, and whether the Government has assessed impact on Isles businesses of the extra costs this cut will impose on them.

Tavish Scott said;

"The cost of flying to and from Shetland is high and is a real tax on island life. That is why I introduced the ADS when I was Transport Minister and why the funding available was directed through the ADS system to island residents for their personal and business travel. I am pleased that the current Government plan to continue ADS for the Islands and I support their work to obtain European Commission approval for the scheme. That should be straightforward.

"But I cannot see why stopping Shetland business travellers helps the Island economy or the future of our air services. I am asking the Government how the proposed cut can be justified, and how it will work in practice. For a start, many Shetlanders combine business and personal trips. If someone goes south for a business meeting in Aberdeen but also does some personal shopping on Union Street, will they be entitled to the ADS discount? The proposal is not just unfair, it is unworkable. I want the Scottish Government to reverse these ill-considered proposals, and also want Shetland businesses to tell the Transport Minister exactly what they think of this plan."