§ LORD AUCKLANDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that hospital and other medical facilities are adequate in the County of Inverness-shire, in view of the increasing development of winter sports and other outdoor recreational pursuits in the Cairngorms.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD) HUGHES)My Lords, the hospital services are able to meet the extra demand on them without difficulty. Arrangements have been made to strengthen the general medical services and to extend the doctor's premises at Aviemore, and an additional four-wheel drive ambulance has been provided at Kingussie. The adequacy of these services will, of course, be kept under review.
§ LORD AUCKLANDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that very full and satisfactory reply. May I ask him whether the ambulances will be fully equipped to deal with any serious head injuries which may occur, in view of the increasing numbers of children and young people who are now ski-ing and indulging in other pastimes in the Cairngorms area?
§ LORD HUGHESYes, my Lords.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, arising out of the Question, may I ask Her Majesty's Ġovernment—I am afraid I 960 am very ignorant on this—whether there is any national form of general inspection of all the different hospitals in the different areas, especially with regard to accommodation facilities?
§ LORD HUGHESI am afraid, my Lords, that that runs rather wide of the original Question.