Air Passenger Duty: Northern Ireland

(asked on 25th February 2015) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to devolve air passenger duty to the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
David Gauke Portrait
David Gauke
This question was answered on 4th March 2015

The rates of air passenger duty for all direct long-haul flights departing from Northern Ireland airports have been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly Government. The Assembly Government has set these rates to zero.

Any further devolution of APD to Northern Ireland, as a means to achieve a reduction in rates, would need to be funded by the Executive, in order to protect the public finances and comply with EU state aid rules.

The Government is exempting children from air passenger duty and abolishing the two highest band C and D rates charged on connected long-haul flights departing from Northern Ireland. For further information I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 2015 to Question UIN 220598.

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