Former Transport Minister Derek Twigg joins Air Passenger Duty battle

Feb 2 2010 by William Green, The Journal

A FORMER Transport Minister has joined the battle against increases in a damaging tax on flying.

Derek Twigg is among dozens of MPs to back a Commons motion urging Ministers to review Air Passenger Duty (APD).

A total of 38 MPs have signed the motion tabled by Newcastle North’s Doug Henderson, which comes as The Journal’s A Tax Too Far campaign has spearheaded the campaign to review APD.

The growth support comes as Newcastle Airport faces up to recession-hit passenger numbers, with numbers down 8.9% down on the previous year.

The situation was even worse at Durham Tees Valley, which saw the biggest drop in passenger numbers in Europe at 55.4%.

Mr Henderson’s motion calls on the Government to carry out a “robust and transparent” assessment of the impact of APD on regional air services.