UUP questions Air Tax Hike if monies raised don’t go back into Environmental Projects
Ulster Unionists today questioned the new air tax which came into effect last week, doubling the previous amount of tax.
Speaking today Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford Angus Carson said,
“The principle of increasing tax burden for the most polluting industries is worth exploring. But I don’t see how doubling air tax to £10 on some internal EU flights, or up to £40 on international travel, will have any real impact on driving down CO2 emissions.
If setting up a new stealth tax was the aim then job done. But can doubling air taxes really benefit the environment ?
If the money raised gets ploughed into schemes designed to offset emissions, then that would at least be a start.
In the interim, offsetting schemes can fill the gap. Can the government confirm that the entire extra tax revenue will go directly into protecting our environment and reducing CO2 emissions?”