HC Deb 18 July 1988 vol 137 cc484-6W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when a consultant pathologist will be appointed to lead the work of cervical cancer smear testing in North Staffordshire district health authority.

Mrs. Currie

I understand that a consultant pathologist has been appointed to run the cervical cancer screening programme in North Staffordshire health authority and that she took up the post on 1 June 1988.

Ms. Walley To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the quality of cervical smears tests taken from women in North Staffordshire district health authority.

Mrs. Currie

Guidance on quality in taking and examining smears was issued to health authorities in January this year. I understand that the North Staffordshire health authority is undertaking a programme of action under the circular.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that women in North Staffordshire district health authority are receiving the results of their cervical smear test within the time limit set by the Government.

Mrs. Currie

The guidance issued to health authorities in January this year stated that laboratories must aim to send results to the doctors who submit a smear within one month of receiving it. I understand that the average length of time for submission of results to doctors in North Staffordshire district health authority is now four weeks,

Housing benefit:
Expenditure, number of recipients and average amounts 1979–1987
Rent rebate Rent allowance
Expenditure £ million Numbers thousands Average value £ annum Expenditure £ million Numbers thousands Average value £ annum
1979–80
Great Britain 238 1,205 197.51 40 220 181.82
1980–81
Great Britain 317 1,330 238.35 48 240 200.00
1981–82
Great Britain 497 1,590 312.58 50 250 200.00
1982–83
England 769 2,431 316.33 66 234 282.05
Scotland 110 468 235.04 6 19 315.79
Wales 50 151 331.13 2 7 285.70
Great Britain 929 3,050 304.59 74 260 284.62
1983–84
England 1,659 2,984 555.97 483 911 530.19
Scotland 212 565 375.22 30 64 468.75
Wales 109 185 589.19 23 42 547.62
Great Britain 1,980 3,735 530.12 536 1,015 528.08
1984–85
England 1,786 2,984 598.53 615 969 634.67
Scotland 237 570 415.79 42 64 656.25
Wales 122 189 645.50 31 47 659.57
Great Britain 2,145 3,745 572.76 688 1,080 637.04
1985–86
England 1,896 2,944 644.00 739 1,022 723.09
Scotland 267 577 462.74 56 74 756.76
Wales 131 188 696.81 40 53 754.72
Great Britain 2,294 3,710 618.33 835 1,150 726.09

compared to eight weeks in March this year. There remains a small backlog of smears to be cleared, including those which are the subject of clinical discussion with Christie hospital.