McArthur raises ADS concerns in Green Investment Bank debate

Orkney’s MSP has repeated his concerns about business travel being cut from the Air Discount Scheme during a Parliament debate on the case for the Green Investment Bank to be located in Edinburgh.

Mr McArthur said: “UK ministers are due to decide shortly where the bank is to be located and Edinburgh is the ideal candidate given its strengths in finance, academia, engineering and renewables.

“When the [energy] minister went on to stress the importance of good transport and digital connectivity, it exposed a real lack of joined-up thinking, with the Scottish Government continuing to exclude business-related travel from the Air Discount Scheme.

“Orkney’s position at the centre of marine renewables development is being used to underscore Scotland’s case to host the Green Investment Bank. However, the cost and availability of key air services to and from Orkney are regularly cited by the renewables industry as concerns.

“I hope the energy minister’s comments today will signal his willingness to put pressure on the Transport Minister to think again over this ill-founded and damaging cut to Orkney’s lifeline air services”.