TREASURY WARNED OVER AIR TAX CHANGES

TREASURY WARNED OVER AIR TAX CHANGES

BUDGET SHAKE-UP WOULD BE HIGHLAND’S HAMMER BLOW

DANNY ALEXANDER REMINDED OF PREVIOUS OPPOSITION TO PLAN

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Budget, Western Isles SNP MP Angus
MacNeil has called for assurances that the Highlands and Islands will
not lose existing air tax concessions as a result of Treasury plans to
replace Air Passenger Duty (APD) with a “per plane” tax.

Under current tax rules, passengers departing from Highlands and
Islands airports, and those flying on any service operated by aircraft
with less than 20 seats or 10 tonnes maximum take-off weight are
exempt from APD.

Mr MacNeil has written to both the Chancellor and Chief Secretary to
the Treasury warning that, without appropriate exemptions, a “per
plane” tax could threaten air services for passengers in the Highlands
and Islands.

Mr MacNeil also reminded the Treasury Secretary, Danny Alexander, a
fellow Highlands MP, of comments he made in 2007 about previous plans
to replace APD with a “per plane” tax. Speaking in October 2007, Mr
Alexander said: "The possible removal of this exemption would be a
serious blow to the Highland economy. It would be a reversal of the
government's recognition that these Highlands and islands services are
lifeline services and on that basis merit a different treatment."

Mr MacNeil said:

“To lose this exemption would be a hammer blow to the Highlands and
Islands economy, and the Treasury must ensure that equivalent air tax
concessions are continued.

“Scottish air services would be disproportionately affected by this
change, and it would undoubtedly result in a reduction in the
frequency lifeline flights as airlines maximise seat occupancy. This
change may also apply to cargo flights, and that would clearly also
raise questions over the frequency of flights transporting essential
provisions and mail deliveries to our remote communities

“Danny Alexander, as a fellow Highlands MP, clearly understands the
situation, and I am encouraged that he has spoken out against this
threat previously. Now that he is in the Treasury he must ensure that
the current exemptions are not withdrawn, and that future air links to
and from the Highlands and Islands are not threatened.”

COMMONSENSE MUST PREVAIL AT JOB CENTRE PLUS

 

COMMONSENSE MUST PREVAIL AT JOB CENTRE PLUS

 

MSP for Falkirk West Michael Matheson has today asked Job Centre Plus for a ‘little commonsense’ when it comes to those unable to attend bi-weekly meetings due to serious illness.

The Sunday Post today [Sunday] reported that terminally ill cancers patients across Scotland are being put at risk of having their benefits, which they are fully entitled to, taken away because they are unable to attend meetings at their local jobs centres due to their ill health.

Commenting, Michael Matheson said:

“These are very alarming reports that have emerged today. It is even more concerning that this appears to be common practise across the whole of Scotland and not just an unique case.

“The previous Labour Government had said that serious ill cancer patients were to be exempt from these means tests but sadly that appears not to be case.

 

“A little commonsense would have stopped this absurd and ridiculous practise which has no doubt caused a great deal of worry for those threatened with having their benefits removed, on top of what surely is already a traumatic time for those involved.

“Job Centre Plus must now resolve this as soon as possible and offer an apology to those who have been affected.”

UK DEFENCE UNDERSPEND MUSHROOMS IN SCOTLAND AHEAD OF CUTS

UK DEFENCE UNDERSPEND MUSHROOMS IN SCOTLAND AHEAD OF CUTS

SNP CALLS FOR SDR TO CONSIDER DEFENCE SPENDING ACROSS THE UK

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is highlighting UK Ministry of Defence Statistics which shows the defence underspend in Scotland has topped over £5.6 billion in recent years.

As MPs prepare for a House of Commons debate on the Strategic Defence Review tomorrow (Monday) the SNP is calling for the SDR to consider a fair defence footprint across the UK.

Fears are being raised that forthcoming defence cuts could lead to a massive base closure program and slashing of manpower. With just over 11,000 service personnel based in Scotland there are currently less military personnel pro-rata than serve in the armed forces of the Irish Republic.

Westminster SNP Leader and Defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP said:

“Scotland has been seriously hit in recent years with over 10,000 defence job losses, base closures, unit amalgamations and a massive defence underspend. We should not be hit by a double whammy from Whitehall that would be disproportionate and unfair. The SDR must consider how military cutbacks will impact on the nations and regions of the UK.

According to Ministry of Defence statistics from the most recent years where figures are available:

•       The defence underspend in Scotland has increased massively, mushrooming from  £749m in 2002-03 to £1259m in 2007-2008, which represents a 68% increase in 6 years.
•       Between 2002-2008 the underspend in Scotland has totalled a mammoth £5.622bn
•       The largest underspend recorded in a single year was a staggering £1.259bn for 2007-2008
•       Between 2005-2008 there has been a drastic real terms decline year on year in the defence spending in Scotland – in total Labour slashed defence spending by a huge £150m in these years.
•       £50m less was spent on defence in Scotland in 2007-08 than in 2006-07 – representing a 3% decrease.

Speaking about the MOD statistics Angus Robertson MP said:

“These figures reveal a mammoth defence underspend in Scotland, just as the MOD embarks on a strategic review that is certain to bring even more pain.

“The scale of the underspend is striking and totally unacceptable. Scottish taxpayers are disproportionally contributing huge sums towards the Ministry of Defence, at the same time as the conventional military footprint in Scotland is disappearing at an unprecedented rate.

“The UK government must consider the impact of defence spending cuts across the UK.

TORIES PLAN TO LEAVE SCOTLAND IN THE DARK

TORIES PLAN TO LEAVE SCOTLAND IN THE DARK

PLAYING WITH TIME ISN’T REAL CHANGE

Angus MacNeil MP has today hit at comments made by the UK Tourism Minister in the Sunday Express, in which he admits that the Tory/Lib Dem Government are considering the option to change time zones in order to suit those in the South of England.

In his remarks, MacNeil, MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, has raised possible safety concerns for young children travelling to school in hours of darkness if this change was to take place.

Angus MacNeil MP said:

"Once again this is the Tories pandering to voters in the South, forgetting about those in Scotland and the North of England. David Cameron said he wanted to ‘change’ the United Kingdom. Playing with clocks does not really improve the country.

“If we were to move to 'double summer time', as being suggested, for two months of the year nowhere North of Manchester would see sunlight before 9am - that is lunacy in my opinion and would likely have safety implications for school children.

“Lib Dem MPs from Scotland – especially those who claim to represent the interests of far north of the country – must say whether they support this proposal to plunge their constituents into darkness.

"My suggestion is that we move to a more symmetrical changing of the clocks either side of midwinter, thus making winter shorter and extending British Summer Time.

“The people of Scotland rejected the Tories. If the Tories want to reject Scotland then they should give the people the option of running their own affairs in a referendum”.