HC Deb 20 June 1978 vol 952 cc181-2W
Mr. Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist in Scotland for the diagnosis and treatment of tropical diseases and for the examination and reassurance, or appropriate treatment, of travellers who have returned to Scotland from tropical countries; and

towards the establishment of centres of excellence for gifted sportsmen and women.

Mr. McElhone

The Scottish Sports Council is consulting a wide range of interested bodies on the report of its Sports Development Advisory Group on Centres of Excellence. My right hon. Friend will consider carefully any specific proposals which the council may submit to him when these consultations have been completed.

The extent to which it will be possible to develop Centres of Excellence depends, among other things, on the resources available, and I consider that the initiatives which, at my request, the council is now undertaking to extend sports opportunities throughout the community deserve higher priority than the development of special centres for a relatively small number of gifted sportsmen and women.