§ Lord LLOYD of KILGERRANasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) what steps, if any, have been taken to implement Resolution No. (73) 27 adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on 26th October 1973 at the 225th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies recommending the establishment of Sports Medicine Centres; and
(b) what reports, if any, of action regarding this recommendation have been circulated to Her Majesty's Government from Governments of other Member States of the Council of Europe.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)(a) The resources available to the National Health Service and to the Sports Council have not permitted the introduction of purpose-built sports medicine centres covering the wide range of functions suggested in the resolution. The National Health Service treats sports injuries on the same basis as other injuries and is also co-operating in trials of sports injuries clinics attached to local sports centres and working closely with local general hospitals. The Sports Council is supporting research into sports medicine. There are clinics providing medical services at the two largest centres of sporting excellence—Crystal Palace and Leeds—and it is hoped that any further development of centres of excellence will be accompanied by an extension of associated medical services.
(b) Member States were invited to report on action taken in respect of this resolution every five years. Her Majesty's Government would not therefore expect to receive any reports until the latter part of 1978, although we are aware that there have been developments in this field in some Council of Europe countries.