Scottish Parliament raise concerns over BAA 'holiday tax'
09.03.08
Charges for collecting passengers at airports 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, saying that the UK's biggest airport operator, BAA, had introduced charges for picking up passengers - including via enforced airport parking stays.
The West of Scotland MSP said: ‘It is 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 introduced a ‘holiday tax’.
Mr Salmond said the issue was ‘a matter of great controversy’. He noted that Aberdeen Airport had withdrawn its proposals for taxation on taxi uplift and pointed to an investigation by the Competition Commission into the provision of airport services by BAA. Mr Salmond said: ‘I hope that these matters can be properly addressed because there is concern that there are competition implications to some of the charging mechanisms that are being used.'
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