HC Deb 21 July 1998 vol 316 c466W
Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will conduct an investigation into the transmission of disease through the air-conditioning systems of jet airliners. [51672]

Ms Glenda Jackson

To date there has been no evidence to suggest that there is a link between cabin air quality, flow rates and the spread of disease. Even when the air conditioning is set at its lowest level, the air in a modern aircraft cabin is completely changed every three minutes on average. This is well above the standard for public buildings.

We have no plans to conduct any research into this issue at present.