§ Lord Monsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they reconcile Baroness Scotland of Asthal's statement that "We are not members of the EEA" (H.L. Deb., 17 March, col. 1878) with the facts that the United Kingdom was a signatory to the 1992 Oporto agreement which brought the European Economic Area (EEA) into being; that Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Bill assumes the United Kingdom to be a member of the EEA; and that a reduced rate of air passenger duty applies to flights from the United Kingdom to fellow EEA member states. [HL2202]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe noble Lord is correct. Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Bill reflects the fact that the UK (as an EU member state) is indeed a member of the EEA. The reduced rate of air passenger duty does apply to flights from the UK to fellow EEA member states. I apologise for my earlier error.