HC Deb 16 January 1985 vol 71 cc168-70W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in England and Wales have died of cancer of the cervix in the age groups (a) 20 to 24 years, (b) 25 to 29 years, (c) 30 to 34 years, (d) 35 to 39 years, (e) 40 to 44 years, (f) 45 to 49 years, (g) 50 to 54 years, (h) 55 to 59 years, (i) 60 to 64 years, (j) 65 to 69 years, and (k) 70 years and over; and what was the total number in each year since 1978.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The available information is shown in the table:

Numbers of female deaths assigned to cancer of the cervix uteri, 1978 to 1983 (ICD code 180)
England and Wales
Year Age at death (years)
All ages 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64 65–69 70 and over
1978 2,153 1 34 59 81 82 125 233 306 266 302 664
1979 2,087 6 27 56 79 88 137 177 300 278 281 658
1980 2,068 10 30 74 82 79 116 189 278 267 304 639
1981 2,017 7 30 81 89 105 103 167 251 257 277 650
1982 1,932 7 25 77 89 113 125 132 197 268 266 632
1983 1,959 3 43 78 92 104 127 155 184 265 214 694

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many smears and how many positive smears for cervical cancer were taken in England and Wales in the age groups (a) 15 to 19 years, (b) 20 to 24 years, (c) 25 to 29 years, (d) 30 to 34 years, (e) 35 to 39 years, (f) 40 to 44 years, (g) 45 to 49 years, (h) 50 to 54 years, (i) 55 to 59 years, (j) 60 to 64 years, (k) 65 to 69 years and (l) 70 years and over; and what was the total in each year since 1974.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Information is not available in the exact form requested. The available information is given in the tables.

Number of cervical smear tests diagnosed as positive in England and Wales, 1974–1983
Age
Year All ages Under 25 25–29 30–34 35 and over
1974 11,556 1,187 2,032 1,988 6,349
1975 11,911 1,217 2,143 2,079 6,472
1976 13,336 1,365 2,444 2,625 6,902
1977 14,952 1,517 2,740 2,997 7,698
1978 16,260 1,709 3,217 3,555 7,779
1979 17,333 1,645 3,385 3,934 8,369
1980 19,923 2,117 4,027 4,597 9,182
1981 21,340 2,098 4,470 5,068 9,704
1982 22,370 2,382 4,729 5,151 10,108
1983 24,836 2,477 5,155 5,703 11,501

Number of cervical smear tests taken in England and Wales, 1974–83
Thousands
Age*
Year All ages Under 25 25–29 30–34 35 and over
1974 2,476 560 490 354 1,072
1975 2,498 592 482 380 1,044
1976 2,568 566 476 429 1.097
1977 2,545 616 458 385 1,086
1978 2,587 600 441 383 1.163
1979 2,749 632 467 406 1,244
1980 2,928 701 469 404 1,354
1981 2,999 717 495 471 1,316
1982 2,951 * * * *
1983 3,200 * * * *
* The age breakdown for the years 1974–1981 was estimated from a sample of records at the National Health Service Central Register at Southport. Data from this source is no longer available.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Government did not accept the recommendations of the Committee on Gynaecological Cytology that the cervical cancer national recall scheme should be replaced by local call and recall schemes.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The Government accepted the recommendation made by the committee on gynaecological cytology, in its "Age and Frequency Report", that the national recall scheme should be replaced by local schemes, and guidance was issued to the National Health Service on the organisation of local recall schemes in 1981. The benefit of call schemes has not yet been proven and we are currently funding a research study to evaluate a call versus a recall scheme.