§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any information about the frequency of availability of cervical smears in other western European and north American countries and the mortality rates from cancer of the cervix.
§ Mr. FreemanWe have no detailed information on the frequency of availability of cervical smear testing in these countries. Mortality rates for western European and north American countries are given in the 1988 "World Health Statistics Annual", published by the World Health Organisation, a copy of which is in the Library. In England and Wales the death rate from cervical cancer fell by 14 per cent. between 1976 and 1986.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he gives about the age at which cervical smears should be made available.
§ Mr. FreemanGuidance to health authorities on cervical cancer screening is contained in health circular HC(88)1, which was issued in January 1988 and has been placed in the Library. We have asked health authorities to invite all women aged 20 to 64 for routine screening by March 1993, unless their GP has indicated that they should be excluded. Women aged 65 and over who have not had two consecutive negative smears in the last 10 years should also be screened. Smears should also be taken at any age if clinically necessary.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of those district health authorities which make provision for cervical smears more frequently than on a three yearly basis.
§ Mr. FreemanThis information is not currently available centrally. Regional health authorities have been asked to provide it in their outturn reports for 1988–89.