§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in which circumstances the national health service allow for mammography for women aged under 50 years; and what instances of mammography being refused for women of this age group have been drawn to her attention;
(2) in how many health authorities women in the 35 to 50 years age group are provided with free national health service mammograms upon request.
§ Mr. SackvilleWomen under 50 will not be invited for routine screening for breast cancer; younger women at special risk may be offered mammography if referred by their general practitioner as will women with symptoms. This is a clinical decision and not one in which we would wish to interfere. No instances of mammography being refused have been drawn to our attention.