THE Scottish and UK Government must work together to introduce a tax on private jets, according to the Scottish Greens.
The party’s transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell has called on the governments to cooperate in the rolling out of the Air Departure Tax (ADT).
In 2017, the Scottish Parliament passed legislation to replace Air Passenger Duty with the ADT after the powers to introduce a tax on the carriage of passengers from airports in Scotland was devolved.
However, the Scottish Government said the legislation is yet to be enforced due to the UK Treasury’s refusal to allow an exemption for lifeline flights covering the Highlands and Islands.
READ MORE: Labour conference: GB Energy to be headquartered in Aberdeen
Yet a recent report from Oxfam argued that the tax could be applied almost immediately if the two governments cooperated.
Ruskell has written to the Scottish Government’s Minister for Connectivity and Agriculture, Jim Fairlie, and the UK government’s Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Kane, calling for a meeting to resolve the stalemate and urgently bring in the tax.
Oxfam’s report found that since 2019 there have been 54,746 private flights in Scotland.
The charity argues that an ADT on private jets could raise more than £21 million a year, which could be funneled into funding for public transport such as scrapping peak time rail fares.
“There are few things in this world as wasteful, needless and destructive as private jets,” said Ruskell.
“It is absurd we are allowing multi-millionaires to pollute the world around us at such an obscene rate.
“Private jets are used as a decadent and extravagant sign of wealth and status, transporting some of the wealthiest people in the world from one destination to the next.
“There is no justification for them, especially at a time when global temperatures are rising.
"The truth is that we cannot even begin to tackle the climate crisis without drastically reducing the number of flights that are taking off and landing every day, both here in Scotland and around the world.
READ MORE: 'Undemocratic' royals to face protest at Holyrood 25th anniversary
“A private jet tax is long overdue, but it will take political will and our governments working together.
“For far too long we’ve had a stalemate, with Holyrood blaming Westminster for inaction while UK ministers have refused to engage.
“We need to get it solved as soon as possible so that we can finally deter flights, permanently end peak rail fares and raise vital funds for public transport.
“The Scotland I want us to build is one where rail is always an affordable, accessible and reliable option, not one where private jets are flying overhead as the super-rich disregard our climate and pollute our planet.”
It comes after a transport expert said the Scottish Government’s trial removal of peak rail fares was “not long enough” to assess its benefits.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here