§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the advantages of general screening of men over a certain age for prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. [109120]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 8 February 2000]: The National Screening Committee, which advises the United Kingdom Health Departments about changes to screening policy, advised Ministers in 1997 that screening for prostate cancer, with current techniques for diagnosis and treatment, showed no evidence of benefit and could cause considerable harm. A report from the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment, published in January 1999, stated that mass screening for prostate cancer does not fulfil the ethical requirements and principles to avoid harm and do good. We have asked the Programme Director for the National Screening Committee, the National Cancer Director and the Director of Research and Development to keep this under active review.