asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many smears for cervical cytology examinations have been taken in Tayside health board in each, of the past five years; and what was the detection rate in each year.

The figures for cervical cytology examinations in Tayside health board for the years 1982 to 1985 inclusive are set out in the table. Data for 1986 are not yet available.

Prescribed items dispensed by	Number of prescribed items dispensed	Number of prescribed items charged	Percentage of prescribed items charged
Chemists	2,760,233	543,144	19·7
Appliance Suppliers	3,657	539	14·7
Dispensing Doctors	73,865	8,473	11·5
Total	2,837,755	552,156	19·5

The prescription cost is £2·00 per item but the total income from charges in 1985–86 of £1,222,333 includes £118,236 from pre-payment certificates which do not relate to prescriptions classified as charged. The number of prescriptions obtained on such pre-payment certificates is not known. mortality ratios by social class for the period 1959–63 are contained in the publication "Occupational Mortality 1959–63" (Registrar General for Scotland); and standardised mortality ratios for manual and non-manual occupational groups for the periods 1969–73 and 1979–83 are discussed in a report in the vital statistics return of the Registrar General, Scotland, weeks 4144, 1986. Copies of these publications are in the Library.