Naturally, publicly maintained schools have to provide by law for the physical education of the pupils, and sometimes these facilities are also extended to the whole community for use out of school hours.

I'd like now to say a word or two about water-based sports. Activities on canals, rivers, lakes and reservoirs are becoming increasingly popular and for this, we must thank the British Waterways Board, which as part of its work maintains 1760 kilometers of cruising waterways for navigation, about 960 kilometers of other waterways and some 90 reservoirs.

In addition to the facilities which are provided by local authorities, such as the sports centres ad golf courses I mentioned earlier, we mustn't forget the local voluntary clubs such as rugby, cricket, tennis, golf and so on. Some clubs are even attached to local business and cater for the needs of a firm's employees, and in fact, some companies are actively encouraging their staff to take advantage of the facilities provided.

I've even heard of employees being given time off in the middle of the working day to do a little sport, a practice which is, I believe, already quite popular in the United States. A healthy mind in a healthy body, as the saying goes, so perhaps this is what is in the minds of these employers.

This phrase of course applies very much to the young, and as I said before, all publicly maintained schools must by law provide for the physical education of their pupils. This covers gymnastics, team games, athletics, dancing and swimming.

Every school, except those solely for infants, must have a playing field, or the use of one, and most secondary schools have their own gymnasium as well.

Some have other amenities such as swimming pools, sports halls and halls designed for dance and movement. Sports and recreation facilities are likewise provided at universities, some of which have their own physical education departments, and there are also so-called centres of sporting excellence at universities and other colleges enabling selected young athletes to develop their talents but which also provide for their educational needs.