§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the number of women who had cervical smear tests in each year between 1981 and 1987 and the average time between the time of testing and the time of result and made available in each year, showing the information for each health board area.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe numbers of women who had cervical smear tests are set out in the table. Data for 1987 are not yet available. The figures relate to the health board in which the examining laboratories are located, which is not necessarily the health board in which the cervical smears were taken. Information on the time taken to notify results of tests is not centrally available.
in Scotland aged between 20 and 60, detailed guidance was issued to health boards on the provision of such a service including the need to insitute "fail-safe" arrangements to ensure that a woman with a positive result is followed up.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the number of cases where there was either a failure to inform on an undue delay in
105Winforming the woman concerned of a positive cervical smear test in the Lothian health board area between 1984 and 1987.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis information is not held centrally.