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Civil Aviation Bill

I am grateful to the Minister for his attempt to respond to my very complicated speech. He seemed to imply that everyone who gets on to an aeroplane puts their life at risk every time they do so. It is not quite that serious. As we know, millions of people take flights to various places every day. However, there are potential health problems, just as there are when we cross the road. We take precautions by looking in both directions before we cross. We should also take precautions when we know that there is a potential problem. The noble Lord mentioned the Select Committee report in which the members concluded that, so far as they could see, there was no risk, but perhaps I may remind him that they did say that air quality should be monitored on a regular basis and that filters should be fitted in every aircraft. Neither of those recommendations has been made a requirement by the Government. I gather that these filters cost only a few thousand pounds—not even £100,000, but perhaps only £15,000 to £20,000. Given the cost of an aircraft, such a sum is nothing. Moreover, the filters need to be capable of taking out chemicals as well as bacteria. That is an important point. The noble Lord also mentioned the working group. I am sceptical about it because in my 30 years of being in this place I have seen a lot of working groups. I must confess that they are a wonderful delaying tactic. What we want is someone with hands-on, practical ability to do something, not just to talk about it. We could go on talking for ever. I am disappointed about the international aspects of the research, a point referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis. I shall not discuss it now, but perhaps I may bring to the attention of the Minister the fact that airline pilots have been refused permission to have monitors fitted in the cockpits. The noble Lord will recall that I spoke to him about the pilots who were asked to take part in the FAO research, but they were told that they could not do so. However, I should like to see him privately about that. In view of what he has said, perhaps will he give me a full written rebuttal of my statements? I do not think that he can argue that there is some credibility in what I have said. If he will agree to do that, at this stage I shall withdraw my amendment and consider what to do. May I be given that reassurance?