§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Health why the report into cervical cancer screening at the Women's hospital, Liverpool, was issued with pages 3 to 22 omitted; if he will cause those pages now to be published; whether he will now authorise an independent public inquiry into the original incident; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe report to which the hon. Member refers was commissioned by and is the property of the Liverpool health authority. In order to obtain the full610W co-operation of those involved, the authority gave an undertaking that their evidence would remain confidential. The unfortunate incidents in Liverpool have already been investigated extensively by an internal review, the facts established and action taken locally to ensure that there is no repetition of the occurrence. In the circumstances we are not convinced that a further inquiry is warranted.