widget/exchange-29
widget/exchange-30widget/exchange-33
widget/exchange-31

News / MSP nails SNP on ADS

NEW information has emerged that it was the Scottish government who requested removing the popular Air Discount Scheme from business, public and voluntary groups.

Highlands and islands MSP David Stewart says he received the evidence the government initiated the approach to the European Commission after filing a Freedom of Information Act request.

The Labour MSP has now tabled a motion to the Scottish Parliament calling on the government to overturn its decision to withdraw the scheme from all but private travellers.

“It is clear from the response I received to my FoI request that the Scottish government has not been honest with the people of the highlands and islands,” Mr Stewart said.

“It was them, not Europe, who initiated the withdrawal of these elements from the scheme with the reported savings to government estimated to be just £2.7m per year.

“This is a drop in the ocean in the government’s budget and is a pure and simple cost-cutting exercise. This exercise however will have a seriously detrimental effect on some of our remote highlands and islands communities.”

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:

  • Removal of third-party ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.

 
Categories
widget/exchange-62widget/exchange-53widget/newsletter_form_widget-3widget/exchange-63widget/pd_widget-6widget/exchange-54widget/pd_widget-8widget/exchange-55widget/pd_widget-9widget/exchange-56

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

  • Removal of third-party ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.