§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Royal Marsden hospital consulted with his Department about mobile breast cancer-screening unit leaflet advertisement campaigns to women in New Malden in April and offering screening at a cost of £50; if his Department gave guidance to the Royal Marsden hospital about conducting such schemes; how many 129W similar schemes are operating throughout England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the operation of such schemes.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMy Department was made aware of the Royal Marsden hospital special health authority's private cancer screening service earlier this year. In May, the authority was advised that the principle of offering private cancer screening as a means of income generation was being considered by my Department and that a formal view on the scheme could not be given at that time. We shall shortly be informing health authorities of the types of screening procedures which should be excluded in future from income-generation schemes.
We are aware of a handful of other similar income-generation schemes in England. Any similar programmes in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.