News / Government lied over ADS cuts
NORTHERN isles MSPs Tavish Scott and Liam McArthur have accused the Scottish government of lying to air travellers after it emerged claims the European Commission had called for cutbacks to the popular Air Discount Scheme (ADS) were untrue.
On Tuesday government agency Transport Scotland defended ministers, insisting that the scheme had always been meant to benefit individuals and not businesses.
Last year the SNP government caused an outcry when they removed all business, public sector and charity travel from the scheme that offers a 40 per cent discount on flights from the Scottish isles to the country’s main airports.
Loganair reported a 15 per cent drop in passengers as a result of the move. Leaders of the three Scottish island councils told transport minister Keith Brown ADS had saved their authorities £1 million over three years.
The government had claimed the ruling came from the European Commission, but Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon has learned that was not the case.
Mr Lyon questioned the EC after Labour MSP David Stewart submitted a freedom of information request in March that revealed Holyrood had initiated the new arrangement, saving £2.7 million a year in the process.
In answer to questions from Mr Lyon, the EC said it had not asked the Scottish government to restrict access to the scheme to domestic travellers and it recognised ADS brought both “social and economic benefits to island communities”.
Mr Scott, who was responsible for introducing the ADS as transport minister in 2006, said the SNP had lied to travellers by claiming Europe had forced their hand.
He demanded: “The SNP government should be explaining to local businesses and the voluntary sector why they misled every traveller in the islands.
“Businesses have had to cut back on representing the islands at important trade fairs, conferences and workshops. That is because of SNP ministers and no one else.”
Transport Scotland defended the government’s stance, saying the discount scheme was always meant to benefit individuals.
A spokeswoman said: “Following meetings with local councils and MSPs representing island communities last year, the transport minister agreed to approach the European Commission seeking clarification on the use of the scheme for business related travel.
“In response, the commission reiterated that Aid of a Social Character is for the benefit of individuals and indicated that it has no difficulty with the exclusion of business-related travel from the ADS.
“Whilst we are aware that business-related claims have been made in the past, the Scottish government is more actively enforcing this original component of the scheme.”
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