§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most recent statistics his Department has collated on waiting lists for cancer surgery; and what is his forecast for waiting lists in the first quarter of 1998. [29013]
§ Mr. MilburnInformation is not available in the form requested. However, last year we set up a specialist Working Group to advise on the implementation of our manifesto commitment to end waiting times for cancer treatment. One of the group's main recommendations has been incorporated into our recently published White Paper "The New NHS". This guarantees that by April 1999 everyone with suspected breast cancer will be able to see a specialist within two weeks of their general practitioner deciding they need to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment, and by the year 2000 all suspected cancers will be dealt with in this period. We are currently looking at ways of monitoring achievement of these targets.