§ 43. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health, in view of the concern arising from the failure of health club branches to provide qualified staff for the gymnasia or medical checks to ensure members are in a state of health to use the equipment provided, if he will seek the necessary powers to control such activities.
§ 42. Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to deal with the risks to public health arising from the activities of health clubs, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Woolwich, West.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)I do not think that any action on my part is required.
§ Mr. DoddsIf I can provide my right hon. Friend with substantial evidence of the serious consequences of the absence of medical checks by unqualified staff, will he at least have a look at this? If he can do no more, will he contact the local authorities and let them have this information to show that there is some need for some sort of control?
§ Mr. RobinsonI will have a look at anything which my hon. Friend likes to send me, but the point is that health clubs provide exercises for fit people under instructors, and they do not provide remedial treatment. It is for that reason that I say that it is not, I think, a matter for me.