The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 19th October (WA 125), why they propose to wait for a review by an expert toxicology committee of the Department of Health before they decide whether to commission their own study into the nature and extent of air contaminated on commercial aircraft rather than to participate in the United States Federal Aviation Authority-funded research into cabin air quality. [HL2314]

Lord Davies of Oldham: The review which the UK Government has commissioned addresses the fundamental question of whether there is evidence of a problem in relation to aircraft cabin air quality. We believe this is a crucial first step. The project funded by the Federal Aviation Authority is a feasibility study of possible measurement techniques and protocols.

23 November 2005