§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the patents on breast cancer genes owned by Myriad Inc on testing for hereditary breast cancer; and what negotiations his Department is involved in with Myriad on this issue. [77878]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department is still in discussion with Myriad and the discussion is confidential at this stage.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on objections made to the European patent office to the patents on breast cancer genes owned by Myriad Inc. [77877]
§ Ms BlearsA number of European genetics research institutes have filed objections in the European Patents Office (EPO). We await the outcome of the hearings before the EPO with interest.
Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the target population for breast cancer screening was changed; and what percentage of the target population was screened in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each health authority. [79799]
§ Ms BlearsThe National Health Service breast screening programme has been inviting women aged 50–64 to be screened every three years. The NHS Plan, published in July 2000, announced the extension of the programme to women aged 65 to 70. This extension is being rolled out over the three year period from 2001–2004.
Data for 2000–01 are in the Department's statistical bulletin which is available in the Library. Data on the number of women screened between the age of 65 and 70 are not yet available as the extension began in 2001–02. Data for 2001–02 will be available in the Department's next statistical bulletin, which is due to be published early 2003.