asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action he is taking to ensure the effective implementation of the Government's policies for cervical and breast cancer screening.
I have asked Sir Roy Griffiths, deputy chairman of the NHS management board, to lead a small team whose task will be to oversee the implementation of the Government's policy on cervical and breast cancer screening.Sir Roy and his team will be working with health authorities and family practitioner committees to make sure that they have viable plans, not only for installing computerised call and recall systems, but also to improve take-up of screening and to follow up when women do not respond after being called for screening.I shall be asking Sir Roy to make regular reports to me so that I can keep the House informed, particularly about progress towards the target date of 31 March 1988 for the cervical cancer screening service throughout England.