24 May 2006 : Column 1887W
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of
State for Transport what representations he has received from (a) the
Independent Pilots Association and (b) the British Airline Pilots
Association on potential under-reporting of contaminated air events on UK
registered aircraft. [70760]
Gillian Merron: The information is as
follows:
(a) The Department checked
with IPA who confirmed they had not sent representations. However, they have
since written to Sir Roy McNulty, chairman of the CAA, on 12 May 2006, about
contaminated air events and the Department has been sent a copy. This letter
mentions, among other matters, potential under-reporting.
(b) The Department has useful
working contacts with BALPA. Both DFT and BALPA want to develop an
authoritative understanding of cabin air quality issues. The Department has
therefore commissioned the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) to conduct a
comprehensive evidence review of any health risks in cabin air. The formal COT
meeting will be held in public later this year. BALPA has contributed actively
to this process.