Conservative Party's “Greener Skies” consultation on aviation taxation
The consultation calls for submissions in response to three main policy ideas: charging fuel duty and/or VAT on domestic flights; replacing Air Passenger Duty with a per-flight tax based more closely on actual carbon emissions; and introducing a 'Green Air Miles Allowance' so that people who fly more frequently pay tax at a higher rate. Closing date for responses is 11 June.
The document sets out five principles that a reformed system of aviation taxation should satisfy:
to reduce the overall growth in emissions from aviation
to highlight the crucial role for national policies
to ensure that any new environmental taxes should be replacement taxes, not additional taxes
that any reforms should link tax incentives more closely to carbon content and provide better incentives for fuel efficiency
and that any reforms should ensure that the distributional impact is not regressive
AirportWatch (the umbrella movement uniting national environmental organisations, including Friends of the Earth, and airport community groups opposed to the policy of aviation expansion outlined in the Government's Aviation White Paper) believes that the Conservative document is on the right lines and that it is important that they do not receive responses only from the aviation industry.
For the consultation document please see http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/greenerskiesconsultation.pdf , and for information on AirportWatch and their stance on the proposals, go to http://www.airportwatch.org.uk