§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of women in the eligible target group have been screened for breast cancer in the last three years in Wales; how many women have breast cancer; and how many women died from breast cancer in Wales.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesAs at 31 March 1993, 39 per cent. of the eligible women in Wales—women aged 50 to 64 —were known to have been screened for breast cancer in the previous three years as part of the national screening programme. However, it should be noted that the screening centres for the populations in north and west Wales did not become operational until the end of 1991 and the beginning of 1992 respectively.
Estimates of the number of women who currently have breast cancer are not available centrally. However, an average of 1,685 new breast cancer cases per year were registered for Welsh residents for the period 1984 to 1988.
In the three years to 31 December 1992 there were 2,365 deaths of Welsh female residents from breast cancer.