Government 'should rethink APD tax'

A Liberal Democrat MP has criticised the government's plans to change air passenger duty (APD) charges, saying it will not help the environment.

Sarah Teather, the minister for Brent East, told the Daily Telegraph that the new taxes being based on bands of mileage means it is not a environmental tax, adding: "It should be based on the distance travelled and the carbon emitted, rather than on arbitrary zones drawn up by a lazy bureaucrat."

Other environmental groups have added that a tax on planes would be more effective, as it would mean that each aircraft left full of people.

Ms Teather advised the government to reassess the plans and come back with "greener and fairer" ones which help the environment.

Syed Kamall, an MEP for London, has also criticised the scheme, saying that it has led to 76 routes from the capital being cancelled.

He said that UK air travel is the most heavily taxed in the world and the increase will damage the economy further.

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