§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time taken by laboratories to process cervical smears; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyInformation is not available in the form requested. Health authorities must aim to return the results of cervical smear tests to the doctor who undertook them within one month. In December 1990 about two thirds of health authorities were meeting the one month target. As at December 1991, the latest available date, more than 96 per cent. of health authorities were meeting this target. The average processing time in those districts which were failing to meet this target was six weeks.