Mr. ShermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will establish a high-level inquiry into the present level of deaths from breast cancer;
(2) when she will next meet representatives of general practitioners to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer;
(3) what steps she is taking to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer;
(4) when she last met the Royal College of Surgeons to discuss the level of deaths from breast cancer in the United Kingdom;
(5) what action she is taking to spread best practice from the best health authorities and hospitals in the diagnosis, treatment and care of breast cancer to those areas and hospitals which perform badly.
§ Mr. SackvilleWe have no plans to establish a specific inquiry into breast cancer deaths in this country. The Chief Medical Officer's expert advisory group on cancer is currently preparing advice for general practitioners and health authorities on the organisation of cancer services. These recommendations will be put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and will be followed by consultation with relevant professional bodies.