§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his Department's current priorities for screening in health care in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythCurrent priorities are the establishment of systematic programmes to screen women aged between 20 and 60 at five-yearly intervals for cervical cancer and women aged between 50 and 64 at three-yearly intervals for breast cancer. Computerised call and recall systems will enable health boards to invite all women in the eligible age groups to attend for a cervical smear test by December 1993 and for a breast screening test by March 1994.
In addition, screening of all pregnant women is carried out for the purpose of detecting fetal abnormalities. Following birth, children are screened for inherited or developmental conditions and this is continued throughout the school years. Since 1 December 1988 screening for HIV infection has been available for all women attending ante-natal clinics in Edinburgh and Dundee.