Highlights from today’s Budget announcement

He said: “Right now, people pay more for return flights within and between the four nations of the United Kingdom than they do when flying home from abroad. We used to have a return-leg exemption for domestic flights but were required to remove it in 2001.

But today I can announce that flights between airports in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will from April 2023 be subject to a new lower rate of Air Passenger Duty. We’re also making changes to reduce carbon emissions from aviation.

Most emissions come from international rather than domestic aviation. So I’m introducing, from April 2023, a new ultra long haul band in air passenger duty – covering flights of over 5,500 miles, with an economy rate of £91. Less than 5% of passengers will pay more, but those who fly furthest will pay the most.”

A new one year 50% discount on business rates has been announced for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors – (will the Scottish Government follow suit and extend the business rates discount, or indeed go further?).

A new draught relief for beer and cider was announced, cutting duty by 5%, which will apply for sales in containers of more than 40 litres, a measure aimed to help pubs and a planned increased on duty on spirits will be cancelled from midnight tonight.

The National Living Wage will be increased by £0.59 an hour to £9.50 an hour.

The Chancellor also announced “the largest block grants” for devolved administrations since 1998 in today’s Autumn Budget, with an increase in Scottish Government funding “in each year by an average of £4.6 billion”.

Full details of the measures announced by The Chancellor in today’s Budget and Spending Review are here.