§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to make the national screening programme for breast and cervical cancer available to women aged over 65 years.
§ Mr. SackvilleBreast and cervical screening is already available to women aged 65 and over. In respect of breast screening, it is available every three years on request. For cervical screening, women over 64 are no longer invited for screening under the call-recall programme but may ask to have a cervical smear at any time. Women aged 65 or over who have not had two consecutive negative smears in the last 10 years should continue to be recalled for screening as part of the national programme.