To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to deliver accurate and complete symptomatic breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and performance monitoring data to the same standard as that produced for cancers detected through the NHS Breast Screening Programme. (92692)

The Department is in the process of discussing the harmonization of breast cancer symptomatic and screening services with key stakeholders, including the Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening.

Additionally the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is in the process of developing clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of both early and advanced breast cancer, due to be published in July 2008, which will address diagnostic investigations.

In the interim the Manual of Cancer Services, against which cancer networks are peer reviewed, includes breast cancer measures on diagnostic assessment.