§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department provides the names and addresses of suitable women for breast screening projects to the health boards in order that they may be approached to participate.
§ Mr. John MacKayNo.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what guidelines his Department issues on consent forms given to each potential participant in breast screening projects; and if he requires the forms to state which group the participant is in;
(2) what guidelines his Department issues on the operation of breast screening projects including guidelines on setting up control groups who receive regular screening;
444W(3) what is the policy of his Department towards encouraging regular breast screening for women; and if he provides funding for breast screening research projects in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe potential benefit of breast cancer screening is the subject of a major United Kingdom multi-centre trial, the results of which are expected after 1988. My Department is participating in this trial—involving mammography and clinical examination of the breast—by funding the centre in Edinburgh. Its support for investigations into breast screening is limited to funding of this centre, and it has not issued formal guidelines on the operation of such projects.
The conduct of the trial is overseen by a steering group for each centre and also by a working group representing all the centres.
While this trial is in progress on general grounds women are encouraged to undertake self examination.