HC Deb 27 January 2003 vol 398 c544W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies she has evaluated on the effect of the dumping of aircraft fuel into airspace on(a) the ozone layer, (b) human and plant health and (c) water quality; and if she will make a statement. [92265]

Mr. Meacher

None. There is no evidence that this is a significant problem. Aviation fuel can only be legally jettisoned in an emergency, when Air Traffic Control would advise the pilot to do so, if at all possible, either over the sea or over 10,000 feet above ground level so that the fuel would vaporise. Emergencies are by definition rare occurrences. There is no incentive for jettisoning fuel illegally—it is an expensive commodity. If aviation fuel were to be jettisoned it would biodegrade readily and therefore would not be expected to have a long-term impact. As aviation fuel contains no more than the smallest traces of chlorine or bromine, it will make no contribution to ozone layer depletion.