Air Passenger Duty: analysis of responses to the strategic environmental assessment screening and scoping report

The Consultation Documents

This section introduces "A consultation on a Scottish Replacement to Air Passenger Duty" and the accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening and Scoping Report

A consultation on a Scottish Replacement to Air Passenger Duty

1. The Scottish Government published "A consultation on a Scottish replacement to Air Passenger Duty" ^[1] ("the policy consultation") on 14 March 2016. The policy consultation sought views on how a tax to replace Air Passenger Duty ( APD) in Scotland should be structured and operated in order to boost Scotland's international connectivity and help deliver the Scottish Government's strategic objective of sustainable growth. The policy consultation also sought views on the Scottish Government's plans to reduce the overall burden of the APD replacement tax by 50% by the end of the current session of the Scottish Parliament (starting that reduction in April 2018) and abolishing the tax when resources allow. The responses to that consultation, and the analysis of those responses, can be found at: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/fiscal-responsibility/air-passenger-duty.

Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening and Scoping Report

2. In Scotland, public bodies are required to assess, consult and monitor the likely impacts of their plans, programmes and strategies on the environment. This process is known as Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA). Further guidance on SEA, including requirements and stages, is available on the Scottish Government website ^[2] .

3. SEA is a key component of sustainable development, achieving this through:

• systematically assessing and monitoring the significant environmental effects of plans, programmes and strategies;
• ensuring that expertise and views are sought throughout the process from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Environment Scotland; and
• providing an opportunity for public participation in the decision making process, including a requirement to provide a statement as to how these opinions have been taken into account (a "Post Adoption Statement").

4. Screening and Scoping are two initial stages of SEA and it is a requirement that views are sought from the three Statutory Consultation Authorities. As a matter of good practice, public consultation was also undertaken, going beyond the consultation requirements for SEA at this stage. Views were sought at this early stage in the process to help inform the assessment process and ensure that the assessment proceeds with an effective evidence base, informed by key stakeholders, organisations and individuals.

5. The SEA Screening and Scoping Report ^[3] , also published for consultation on 14 March 2016, set out information including the proposed assessment methodology and environmental baseline that will form the basis of the assessment process. The report also set out information on the consideration of reasonable alternatives and the initial findings of some early assessment work. To help structure responses to the report, seven questions were set out. However, additional points were also welcomed.