Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt has welcomed yet further endorsement of UUP economic policy. Speaking following the announcement by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Chloe Smith MP, that Air Passenger Duty from Northern Ireland Airports for long haul flights is being reduced to the short haul rate of £12 for economy passengers and £24 for business passengers.
 
Mr Nesbitt said;
“This is precisely what I called for on the 14th June in the Ulster Unionist Party’s response to the Treasury Consultation process in which we highlighted the importance of air connectivity to the economy and particularly to Foreign Direct Investors as they make their location decisions.
The Ulster Unionist response was as follows. “We call for the Band A tax of £12 per departing passenger to be applied also to Band B travel, instead of the current £60.”  The DFP response was less clear cut stating that “If APD is retained it should have a single rate no matter the distance flown and that this rate should be akin, or lower, to that currently applied to Band A.”
The fact is that the Ulster Unionist Party were first to make the suggestion that and the Treasury took our advice.  When one considers that it was the Ulster Unionist Party who pioneered the moves to devolve corporation tax varying powers to Northern Ireland and the fact that the announcement on Air Passenger Duty comes so soon after the Labour Party adopted the Ulster Unionist proposal that there should be a concessionary 5% VAT rate for the Repair Maintenance and Improvement of dwellings, to give to construction industry a boost, it is clear that the Ulster Unionist Party is setting the agenda on economic policy as we seek to guide Northern Ireland out of the worst effects of the recession.”