§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the reasons for his Department's delay in agreeing to encourage women under the age of 35 years to have regular cervical cytology examinations, given the increase in mortality rate from cervical malignancy.
§ Mr Geoffrey FinsbergAs I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr Silvester) in my reply of 20 November—[Vol 13, c.264–5]—we are consulting the professions on the report of the committee on gynaecological cytology on the age and frequency of screening. We wish to take account of these views in reaching a decision.