Finance Bill

I congratulate the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on prompting a wide-ranging debate on a narrow clause. I acknowledge the consistent interest and expertise that the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) brings to bear on such issues. That also applies to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris). Let me say to the right hon. Gentleman that, as the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. Goodman) acknowledged, I have always been clear about air passenger duty. The Chancellor has also always been clear about it. When he announced the doubling of air passenger duty on 6 December, he said in his pre-Budget statement:"““Currently, aircraft emissions are not part of the EU emissions trading scheme, and nor is aviation fuel taxed. While we continue to work internationally to seek a global agreement on reducing aircraft emissions, each country must take action domestically. From 1 February, we will double air passenger duty. For most journeys—over 75 per cent. of them—duty will rise from £5 to £10, securing extra resources in the coming spending round for our priorities, such as public transport and the environment.””—[Official Report, 6 December 2006; Vol. 454, c. 310.]" There we have it. Air passenger duty has an environmental impact but it is not an environmental tax such as landfill tax, which the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal mentioned. That was designed and introduced for the policy purpose of making an environmental impact.