OFFSHORE SECTOR AND AIR PASSENGER DUTY

That this House condemns proposals by HM Treasury to extend air passenger duty to cover helicopters transferring workers to offshore drilling platforms; notes this move would cost the offshore oil and gas industry in excess of 165 million a year; believes that this additional burden would threaten jobs and investment and drive up domestic energy prices; and calls on the Government to abandon these proposals and transfer responsibility for air passenger duty in Scotland from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament, as recommended by the Calman Commission.