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Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety implications of the recent instructions by DHL Air Ltd (instruction No. INFO 010/07) advising pilots that low concentrations of fumes (a) after engine start, (b) during taxi and (c) after take-off are normal, do not need to be reported and do not warrant use of emergency oxygen; and if he will make a statement. [127960]

Gillian Merron: The DHL instruction referred to has been assessed by a CAA flight operations inspector as part of the full range of company instructions relating to smoke, fumes and air contamination. The instruction was promulgated as follow up information additional to the relevant normal, abnormal and emergency procedures. These include company guidance for the use of oxygen and masks. The inspector found the instruction acceptable in that context and the operator has taken steps to ensure in training sessions that it must not be interpreted as a dilution of the company's safety policy with regard to the reporting of incidents of this type.