'Kiss and fly' row takes off

THE Scottish Government has been accused of "colluding" in the introduction of a £1 "kiss and fly" charge at Edinburgh Airport.

Ministers had distanced themselves from the controversial drop-off charge, but documents released under freedom of information legislation revealed that senior policy officer Martin Ritchie had sat in on meetings with airport owner BAA and even commented that the 1 fee was "too low".

The Scottish Government said Mr Ritchie had made the comments "without ministerial knowledge or approval", but Lothians MSP Gavin Brown said: "It's shocking stuff and it suggests that the Scottish Government colluded with BAA."