AIR PASSENGER DUTY

That this House recognises the economic importance attached to reduced air passenger duty (APD); notes the recent decision by the government of the Irish Republic to sell its stake in Aer Lingus to AIG, British Airways' parent company; acknowledges that this commercial decision could place Dublin as a major hub airport within these islands, with its added advantage of lower Irish APD, thus impacting on longer haul destinations by all other large airports throughout the UK; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to recognise the massive potential business, tourism and financial loss which this development entails and reduce APD accordingly at the earliest opportunity.