I am writing to bring urgently to your attention an error in the evidence given to the Committee on 17 July by myself and the chair of the Aviation Health Working Group, Mrs Sandra Webber. On looking back we find that we over stated the incidence of aircraft "fume events".

17 JULY 2007

  The error occurred in response to Question 11. In my statement to the Committee I said that fume events occurred in around 0.5% of cases (half of 1%). This figure was repeated in questioning by members of your Committee and by my officials.

  This figure should have been 0.05%—ie one in every 2,000 cases rather than one in every 200 cases. The draft of the final report of the independent Committee on Toxicity, which is posted on its website under reference number TOX/2007/20 Annex 7, says in paragraph 26: "It has been estimated from information provided by three airlines to the COT that overall engineering confirmed smoke/fume incidents occur in around 0.05% of flights (sectors) but that the incidence may be higher than this in some circumstances, depending on airframe, engine type and servicing."

  I hope that this information is helpful, and I apologise to you and the Committee for inadvertently exaggerating the prevalence of fume events.

12 September 2007