§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has completed consultations on the draft circular on the age and frequency of screening for cervical cancer; and what action he intends to take.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands on 17 May at column259 I announced that I would be consulting health authorities and professional bodies on a draft circular which puts into effect the recommendations of the Committee on Gynaecological Cytology which takes account of the latest available evidence on the age and frequency of cervical screening. The recommendations have been generally welcomed and I shall tomorrow be issuing firm guidance to health authorities setting out the revised guidelines on the age and frequency at which women should be routinely screened.