§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trained technicians in cytology are employed to serve Scotland and the Hamilton constituency, respectively; and how many he estimates would be required in order that all women of 35 years and over could be screened against cancer at least once every three years in each case.
§ Mr. RossIn Scotland there are 44 laboratory technicians engaged in cervical cytology and related pathological procedures; and at Bellshill Maternity Hospital, which serves the area including Hamilton, there are three. To screen every woman aged 35 years or more in Scotland once every three years would need the equivalent of about 75 full-time technicians; Hamilton alone would require less than one.