§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women received tests for(a) cancer of the cervix and (b) breast cancer, in the latest year for which figures are available; and what were the equivalent figures in 1979. [11257]
§ Mr. HoramA total of 3.9 million women were tested in 1995–96 for cervical cancer. There is no comparable figure for 1979. The number of cervical smears examined by laboratories in 1979 was 2.6 million compared with 4.6 million in 1995–96. The earliest data available on breast cancer screening show that in 1991–92 0.9 million women were screened. In 1995–96 1.0 million women were screened.