asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish a consultation document on mental incapacity.

As I said in my Written Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Peston, on 23 October (WA 215), the Government hope to issue a consultation paper seeking views on the recommendations contained in the Law Commission Report on Mental Incapacity by the end of this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they accept Secretary of State Albright's statement concerning discussions within the NATO-Russia Council, that "NATO's allies will always need to agree on every item on their agenda before meeting with Russia".

We would expect NATO allies to concert their positions closely before a meeting with Russia, as before meetings with other third parties. Mrs. Albright's statement made on 10 July to the United States Foreign Relations Committee was in connection with the NATO/Russia Founding Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Lord Whitty's statement on 21 October that it is "the intention of the British Government … to ensure that the new security process in Europe is an inclusive one to which the Russians are party" (H.L. Deb., col. 611), is compatible with that made on 7 October by Senator Helms in the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations concerning the establishment of "firewalls in NATO's relation with Russia", which was apparently agreed by Secretary of State Albright; and which policy is being adopted by NATO.

The NATO/Russia Founding Act, signed in Paris on 8 May by all members of NATO and Russia, provided a new framework for consultation with Russia. The NATO/Russia Joint Council gives Russia a strong voice in European security but not a veto in Alliance matters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the costs to local authorities, London Underground and other public bodies of removing chewing gum from streets and other public places.

This information is not available centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimate they have made of the effect on Manchester Airport of the Civil Aviation Authority's recent decision on future airline charges; and whether they will discuss the effect of the charges with Manchester Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority has responsibility for the economic regulation of airports and made its decision on the future level of airport charges at Manchester Airport in the light of consultation on its proposals based on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's (MMC) report. The MMC has taken full account of the airport's capital investment programme. The price cap is a matter for the CAA and Ministers therefore have no plans to meet Manchester Airport on this issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Hayman on 30 October

To date, we have received some 900 representations, of which the majority are pre-printed duplicates. In the consultation document, we informed consultees that we might, if asked, divulge a summary of their responses, but not the actual text. We will not therefore be making the actual responses publicly available. In the light of this undertaking and given the large number of responses, it does not seem appropriate to place copies in the Library but once the response have been analysed we will write to the noble Earl with details of amendments proposed by consultees to the proposals on which we consulted.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Hayman on 30 October

A system of single vehicle approval for kit and replica cars has already been provided for under the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 1996. When these enter fully into effect, each kit and replica car will need to be inspected and approved individually before it is registered and used on the road, whether it is similar to a previous kit or replica car, or whether it is a new design.It is already an offence under Section 76 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to supply defective or unsuitable vehicle parts. The standards for vehicle parts are, in turn, prescribed in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles (Lighting) Regulations 1989. These regulations include the standards required for vehicles subject to Single Vehicle Approval.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Hayman on 30 October

We are aware of only one instance where a vehicle was declared in a published document to have been SVA-tested when it had not been examined by the Vehicle Inspectorate. The publisher of the document was informed and took corrective action. Because Single Vehicle Approval requires each example to be tested individually, it is not possible to pass judgment on claims about compliance with the SVA standards until a vehicle has undergone the examination; we shall make this clear if such claims are drawn to our attention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What statutory controls there are over the disposal of playing fields by local authorities for development: and whether Bristol City Council have complied with these controls in the case of Filwood playing fields.

There are no general statutory controls which apply specifically to the disposal of playing field land for development. However, specific controls may apply in particular circumstances; for example, where a local authority wish to dispose of land under planning or local government legislation at less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained, and, in the case of school playing fields, where regulations prescribe minimum area and quality standards.Bristol City Council submitted an application to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on 22 October 1997. seeking approval to the disposal of part of the playing fields under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. It is for the council to ensure that they comply with any relevant statutory requirements. In particular, they will need to advertise the disposal of open space and to consider objections received before the Secretary of State can consider the application.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to implement the National Air Quality Strategy.

The Government are pleased to announce that the Air Quality Regulations 1997 have been laid today. These regulations will set the National Air Quality Strategy objectives in statutory form and initiate the system of local air quality management under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. My right honourable friend the Minister for the Environment also announced in July that this Government would initiate an immediate review of the National Air Quality Strategy. This review will look at all aspects of the strategy, including the objectives themselves and the measures required to meet them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:At what rate they would expect the organophosphate fenitrothion applied to waxed canvas material to break down (a) when exposed constantly to the elements; (b) when exposed intermittently to the elements; and (c) when kept folded and contained in bags in a confined space; andAt what level they would have expected the organophosphate fenitrothion to have been present in the tent tested by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (referred to in the letter to the Countess of Mar from the Assistant Private Secretary to the Minister for the Armed Forces dated 9 October 1997) at the time of the tent's purchase in 1993, assuming that it had not been exposed to the elements since the application of the chemical, and at what concentration the chemical would originally have been applied.

Organophosphate compounds which have been applied to any surface will normally break down over a period of years. The rate at which this process takes place depends on many factors, such as moisture levels, temperatures, acidity or alkalinity, and sunlight. The breakdown process may be delayed if the compounds are used on material that has been treated with a wax finish, as was the case for the tent section tested by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.In the absence of any data concerning environmental factors, it is not possible to provide an accurate assessment of the levels of fenitrothion that would have been present on the tent in 1993, or to estimate at what rate fenitrothion would break down under the conditions given in the examples described. There is no evidence, however, that either in 1993, or during the Gulf conflict itself, the health of any individuals has been damaged by their having come into contact with pesticide residues on these tents.The formulation of the fenitrothion-based pesticide which was made available to British troops during the Gulf conflict was a 40 per cent. emulsion concentrate. One part of this concentrate was diluted with 40 parts water and, when applied to tentage, the diluted solution was used at a rate of approximately 4.5 litres per 100 square metres.

Government:Whether the report in the

In the time available so far it has not been possible to complete appropriate enquiries in order to provide an answer to these questions. As soon as I have sufficient information I will write to the noble Countess. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any vaccines other than yellow fever, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A. B, rabies, anthrax, pertussis (as an adjuvant) and bubonic plague were used as part of the medical countermeasures programme before and during Operation Granby.

During the Gulf War three vaccines—anthrax, pertussis, as an adjuvant, and plague—were used in the UK anti-biological warfare agent immunisation programme. Details of these vaccines were published on 28 October in the paper Background to the use of medical countermeasures to protect British Forces during the Gulf War (Op. GRANBY), a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.British troops could also have received a number of routine immunisations. These were those which service personnel are normally required to have, for yellow fever, tetanus, typhoid and poliomyelitis; those appropriate for travellers to the region, for cholera; and those appropriate to particular categories of Service personnel, for hepatitis B. Recent work on Gulf War records suggests some troops also received meningitis vaccine.There have also been suggestions that other standard vaccines were used. For example, hepatitis A and rabies are two vaccines that are sometimes given to travellers to the region. Hepatitis A immunoglobulin is also known to have been available in-theatre. As yet the MoD has no specific evidence of these three products being used. However, the Fact Finding Team which is conducting a study into the implementation in-theatre of the anti-biological warfare agent immunisation programme is also seeking more information on the range of standard vaccines which may have been received by certain groups of Service personnel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that Brent and Harrow Health Authority's proposal to close the Willesden Centre for Psychological Treatment will not deprive the population of Brent of vital mental health services.

The proposal for the Willesden Centre for Psychological Treatment is part of a comprehensive review of mental health services which is currently being undertaken by Brent and Harrow Health Authority. A series of proposals are subject to a public consultation exercise. The outcome of consultation will he discussed at the health authority meeting on 9 December 1997. Until such time as the outcome is known, it would be inappropriate for Ministers to comment. If the proposals are contested by the local community health council, the final decision will rest with Ministers at the Department of Health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any record of people surviving an AIDS diagnosis while on continuous antiviral medication for 5,6,7,8,9 or 10 or more years; and if so how many they are aware of in each category.

I refer the noble Earl to the reply I gave on 7 July at column WA63. This shows the number of reported cases surviving three years or more after an AIDS diagnosis. We do not know how many are constant users of antiviral drugs because the choice of treatment for HIV and AIDS patients is a matter for discussion between the patient and clinician; records of an individual's treatments are confidential.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the medical advice since 1987 to people with HIV/AIDS who have been prescribed antiviral medication about the length of time for which they should take such medication.

In April this year the first consensus of medical opinion was published about the anteretroviral treatment of HIV seropositive individuals in the form of guidelines from the British HIV Association. These guidelines do not contain recommendations about the length of time an individual should remain on medication. The choice and duration of treatment is a matter for discussion and agreement between individual patients and their clinicians, and medical advice will be tailored to the individual.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which companies, industries and issues the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs cannot handle due to possible conflicts of interest.

Ministers in this Government will continue to make public statements about their involvement in specific cases where it is valuable for the conduct of a particular case to do so.As already announced, the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs has stood aside from consideration of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's reports on P&O/Stena and on the travel trade, and papers relating to the European Commission's investigation under the European Community Merger Regulation of the proposed acquisition by Dupont of certain ICI bussinesses. Shares relating to these companies were owned by his late father, who died in a mountaineering accident.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the universities of Oxford and Cambridge are paid £2,000 per student more than other United Kingdom universities: andWhether the additional payments made to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge are made in recognition of high standards of education achieved at those universities; and if so, whether they will make similar payments to other United Kingdom universities where equally high standards are achieved.

The college fee for students at Oxford and Cambridge universities represents the provision of a wide variety of services—for example, additional library facilities—provided in the colleges. It also reflects more generous provision for teaching allowing a greater use of the individual tutorial approach in the Oxbridge colleges than elsewhere.We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England for advice on the mechanisms for settling future funding for universities and colleges at Oxford and Cambridge and on any implications for the three independent colleges at Durham, which also receive funding through reimbursement of college fees. We are currently awaiting their advice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For each Young Offender Institution, how many hours per day were spent by inmates (a) locked up and (b) engaged in constructive activities, during the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and whether separate figures are available for remand and convicted prisoners.

The Prison Service monitors the time that is available for prisoners to spend out of their cell, based on normal prison routines, rather than actual time that prisoners spend in their cell.In the 12-month period from September 1996–September 1997, the average time available for prisoners to spend out of their cell per day for each Young Offenders Institution is shown in Table A.The Prison Service monitors average time engaged in constructive activity on a weekly rather than a daily basis. The average weekly number of hours spent in constructive activity for each Young Offenders Institution is shown in Table B.