§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his oral answer of 29 April,Official Report, columns 1153–54, if he will list those persons who will join Dr. Euphemia McGoogan in the inquiry into the inaccurate reporting of cervical smear tests by certain members of the staff of the Inverclyde Royal hospital, Greenock; if he will outline the terms of reference of the inquiry; and when he expects to receive a report of the inquiry.
§ Mr. LangI refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 4 May at column 35. Dr. McGoogan has indicated that the report should be available by early summer.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend cervical and breast cancer screening to teenage girls and women aged 65 years and over; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThere are no plans to extend the age ranges for routine screening. Women are already offered screening for breast cancer at three-yearly intervals between the ages of 50 and 64 years. There is not yet evidence to show that screening younger women for breast cancer is of benefit.
For cervical cancer, health boards have been asked to offer screening to women aged 20 to 60 at no more than 211W five-yearly intervals. In practice, health boards screen on a three-yearly cycle. Any younger women thought to be at risk or women over 60 who do not have a history of satisfactory tests may have a cervical smear under present arrangements.