Delay on Heathrow and backtracking on tax

7th July, 2008

The DfT (Department for Transport) told AEF and others at at the ‘External Advisory Group’ that the government decision on Heathrow will be delayed until the autumn.  This is apparently due to the volume of responses to the consultation and additional work to be done on air pollution.

Although not reported at that meeting, we understand that the government is hinting that it may not go ahead with its proposed replacement for Airport Passenger Duty (APD). The goverment was bounced by the Conservatives and LibDems into proposing changes to APD; it will be interesting to see how the opposition parties react now.