§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of UK women participated in the National PAP Screening Programme, broken down by age groups(a) under 30, (b) 31 to 49, (c) 50 to 59 and (d) 60 to 64 years, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [72501]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 23 July 2002]: The national computerised call/recall system for cervical screening was introduced in 1988. Women aged 20 to 64 are invited for a free cervical screening test every three to five years. Women over 65 are invited if their previous two tests were not clear or if they have never been screened.
The coverage of the screening programme is defined as the proportion of women aged 25–64, excluding those "recall ceased" for clinical reasons, who have had a tes: with a result at least once in the previous five years. The national target across the age range is 80 per cent.
The information requested is shown in the table.
The number of HPV tests will reduce in 2002–03 as HPV recruitment has ended. The outcome of the HPN, pilots will be available to the Department in autumn 2003 The pilot study cost £1.1 million in 2001–02. Plannec expenditure for 2002–03 is £1 million. It is estimated that the overall pilot will cost approximately £2.1 million External quality assessment, laboratory and primary care training and central co-ordination will cost approximately £200,000–£250.000 for the duration of the pilot.