§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will report on the recent meeting in Moscow to review work under the United Kingdom-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics health co-operation agreement.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe fourth annual meeting of the Joint Medical Committee which reviews the working of the agreement was held in Moscow from 27 November to 1 December 1978. The meeting examined reports prepared jointly by the co-ordinators in each country of the collaborative work carried out during the previous year in the three specified fields of eye diseases, emergency medical services and traumatology and influenza. Both sides considered that the work was beginning to be fruitful and that, with appropriate evaluation at all stages, it 287W should continue along the established lines. Work plans for the coming year were approved. These will again concentrate on the three specified fields, although consideration will be given to the possibility of developing a programme of work in aspects of cancer. At the conclusion of the meeting a protocol was signed by the co-chairmen of the Joint Medical Committee which detailed the decisions that had been taken and the programmes of work agreed for the coming year. I am arranging for a copy of this protocol to be placed in the Library of the House.