asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many letters Ministers in his Department have sent to regional, area and district health authority chairmen since 1981 on cervical cytology;(2) how many speeches Ministers in his Department have made since 1981
(a) in the House and (b) outside the House on the subject of his Department's press notices on cervical cytology.
We do not keep those figures but Ministers have made repeated attempts to bring home to health authorities the importance of cervical cytology. Our policy on this subject has been clearly set out in circulars HC(81)14 and HC(84)17 and health authorities know that they have been expected to implement it. Speeches by Ministers are not the only or even the best method of monitoring the performance of authorities.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many circulars on cervical cytology he has issued to health authorities since 1981.
Two. HC(81)14 and HC(84)17.