§ Dr. TwinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relevance to the United Kingdom breast screening programme of the results of the Canadian trial of breast screening.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe adverse results of the reported Canadian trial have no direct relevance to the NHS breast screening programme. These research results relate to women under 50 while the United Kingdom programme covers women aged 50 and over. There is considerable international research evidence that in older, post-menopausal, women mammographic screening, followed by appropriate treatment where necessary, can reduce mortality from breast cancer by about a quarter in the age group screened. Women who are invited to attend for screening should do so.