Minister accused of misleading Holyrood
A senior UK Government minister has been accused of misleading Holyrood.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss was quizzed by MSPS on the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee, telling members that SNP ministers had not approached the UK Government for help with their plans to replace Air Passenger Duty with a new devolved tax.
But firing back, a spokesman for Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay insisted that statement was “completely and utterly untrue”.
Scottish and UK ministers had previously agreed to delay the introduction of the new levy until issues regarding an exemption for flights departing from Highlands and Islands airports had been resolved by officials.
Discussions have taken place at both official and ministerial level, the Scottish Government said. And Mr Mackay is said to have written to the Treasury “explicitly asking the UK Government” to raise the issue with the European Commission on the Scottish Government’s behalf. The spokesman said: “We have lobbied the UK Government repeatedly on this issue.”
He added: “As for Liz Truss, it is now for her to explain why she misled the Scottish Parliament.”