§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the incidence of cervical cancer in Gwynedd; and what proposals he has to reduce it.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe screening and treatment of patients with cervical cancer is primarily the responsibility of the health authorities. Gwynedd is one of the two health authorities in Wales which operate a system for calling women for initial testing as well as recalling them subsequently. The arrangements in Wales for calling and recalling women for testing and the notification of test 327W results are currently under scrutiny by the joint NHS/ Welsh Office working party which will report to the Secretary of State by the end of June.
The figures for the number of positive cases of cervical cancer detected in Gwynedd and the number of deaths, for 1980–83, the latest year for which figures are available, are:
Year Number of positive cases detected Number of deaths 1980 53 11 1981 80 14 1982 73 11 1983 96 11