APD hits ethnic minorities hardest, survey finds

Ethnic minorities and the poorest members of society have been the hardest hit by recent increases in air passenger duty (APD), according to a survey carried out by FlyingMatters.

The campaign group conducted a poll in the ten most diverse constituencies in Britain and found that two thirds of ethnic minorities expect the tax rises that came into effect last November to have an impact on their ability to visit family members abroad.

Over 60 per cent of people in the lowest social bands said the higher rates of APD will affect their travel habits, compared to 55 per cent of the general population.

Some 70 per cent of the ethnic minority individuals surveyed said they were fearful that higher taxes on flights would make it less likely that their relatives would come to visit them in the UK.

Brian Wilson, chairman of FlyingMatters, said: "In these constituencies well over half the population have relatives living abroad. The increases in flight tax will hit these people hard with poorer families and ethnic minorities suffering most. It is a deeply regressive tax.

"Many of these people are being taxed out of the right to visit their loved ones. This is deeply unfair and politically insensitive."

Posted by Paul, 22 February 2010 17:14

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