§ 4. Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the figures for deaths in Scotland caused by cervical cancer for each year since 1975.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe figure for 1975 was 244 and for 1986 it was 199. I shall arrange for the details to appear in the Official Report.
§ Mr. WrayDoes the Minister agree that the Government have a deplorable record in dealing with this disease? They have allowed it to manifest itself, and their proposed scheme to provide a smear test for women between the ages of 20 and 65 over a five-year period is absolutely useless. It is time that they showed some compassion for the 2,000 needless deaths in the United Kingdom and the 200 deaths each year in Scotland since they have been in Government. They should support a scheme and spend the additional £20 million needed, bearing in mind the £5 billion that they spent on defeating the miners.
§ Mr. ForsythI am sure that Professor Strong and the other professionals who drew up the report on which we set up our screening for cervical cancer will be interested to hear the hon. Gentleman's views on the validity of their work. The Government have established a call and recall system for all women between the ages of 20 and 60 in Scotland, and it will be operational by the end of this year. I note the criticism that the hon. Gentleman makes of previous Governments for having taken no initiative in this direction.
§ Mrs. FyfeDoes the Minister agree that a five-year span is inadequate? Is he aware that widespread opinion is that three years is a proper length of time between tests and that, if the Government were less insufferably complacent about spending on the NHS, that could easily be arranged?
§ Mr. ForsythI am grateful to the hon. Lady for pointing out that the Government opted for five rather than for three years. The reason is that 90 per cent. of deaths caused by cervical cancer are among women who have not been screened. We took the view that it was important to set up an effective call and recall system and to have the software in place, rather than to choose an over-ambitious recall period. We shall examine the length of time in the light of circumstances. I should have thought that the hon. Lady would have the grace to acknowledge that the Government have made considerable progress in this area.
The following is the information: 286
Deaths in Scotland caused by cervical cancer: Number 1975 244 1976 214 1977 225 1978 203 1979 224 1980 187 1981 201 1982 208 1983 213 1984 227 1985 214 1986 199