§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce the new class of scientific screening officers for the NHS breast screening programme. [115225]
§ Yvette CooperWe are currently considering with the professional bodies the capacity and workforce of the breast screening programme, in view of the growing numbers of women eligible for breast screening as those born in the post-war years reach the age of 50. Our first priority is to maintain the quality of the screening programme, and while alternative staffing arrangements are under consideration no change will be introduced until we can be confident that the quality of screening will continue at its current high standard.