MSP calls for end to BAA ‘holiday tax’
09.03.08
Charges for collecting airport passengers were denounced as a ‘holiday tax’ by an MSP in the Scottish Parliament Friday, the Press and Journal reports. The SNP's Gil Paterson raised the issue with First Minister Alex Salmond at question time. He said that the UK's biggest airport operator, BAA, had introduced charges for picking up passengers.
The West of Scotland MSP said: ‘It's very welcome that we now have a toll-free Scotland when it comes to bridges. However, I'm sure you are aware that BAA have introduced a road- toll tax of their own, introducing charges for collecting passengers at the airports in Scotland.’ He asked if ministers would step in, saying BAA had chosen to introduce a ‘holiday tax’.
Mr Salmond said the issue was ‘a matter of great controversy’ for a number of airports across Scotland. He said Aberdeen Airport had withdrawn its initial proposals for taxation on taxi uplift. Pointing to an investigation by the Competition Commission into the provision of airport services by BAA, Mr Salmond added: ‘I hope that these matters can be properly discussed because there is concern that there are competition implications to some of the charging mechanisms that are being used.'
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book aberdeen airport hotels or aberdeen airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great aberdeen airport parking and aberdeen airport hotels price comparison websites.
