§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have failed to make appointments for their regular smear test in each of the last three years; how many appointments for smear tests have been broken in each of the last three years; how many cases of cervical cancer have not received their regular smear test in that time; and if he will make a statement. [57349]
§ Yvette CooperCervical screening is not a test for cancer but for abnormalities which, if left undetected and untreated, may develop into cancer. The national computerised call/recall system for cervical screening invites women aged 20 to 64 for a free cervical screening test every three to five years.
The figures are not available in the form requested. 83 per cent. of eligible women were screened at least once in the last five years. Detailed statistics on the number of invitations and the number of women tested are available in Tables 3 and 5 of Statistical Bulletin: Cervical Screening Programme, England: 1998–99, Statistical Bulletin: Cervical Screening Programme, England: 1999–2000, and Statistical Bulletin: Cervical Screening Programme, England: 2000–01, copies of which are available in the Library.