reply

In the interests of fairness-here is the reply I received from my local MP-within 24 hours. Please note though that the £5 he refers to must be for local flights.

Dear Mr Mercer,

Thank you for your email.

Whilst it is entirely a matter for you how you vote at the next election,

and I thank you for your past support, it seems to me that to decline to support

us just because of a £5 increase in airport duty is rather extreme. For example,

because the airline industry is a major contributor to pollution, many people think

that we have been too timid. I should also point out that the increase is not levied

on the passenger, strictly it is a tax on the airline company, particularly the low

cost industry. It is designed to influence these companies to consider better how

they operate. If they are to put on these cheap flights, which the government is

not trying to stop, it is not unreasonable, on behalf of the population at large , that these

companies should contribute to tackling climate change out of their ample profits.

Whether these companies , or any of them, pass this £5 cost on to the consumer

is up to them, they do not have to. They can, and hopefully will, absorb the cost themselves

so that someone like you is not necessarily directly affected.

The other reason that I would ask you reflect as to whether your stance is reasonable,

is to ask your self how many times you fly in a year and so , even if the airline companies

unnecessarily pass on the cost, its not going to actually cost you that much.

Finally, you do have a point about other forms of transport making a similar contribution,

and so I am pleased to tell you that road pricing for travel such car journies on the

motorway will be brought in.

I do hope that this helpful and that you will feel able to stick with us.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Hesford MP