Written question asked by Lord Prior of Brampton (Conservative) on Monday, 14 December 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 December 1998. It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Thursday, 17 December 1998 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on population screening of men for prostate cancer.

Answer: Mr. Prior: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on population screening of men for prostate cancer. [64339] Ms Jowell: In response to advice from the National Screening Committee (NSC), we advised the National Health Service in Executive Letter (97)12 that screening for prostate cancer should not be offered routinely, based on the existing evidence available. This remains the current policy. The NSC is actively keeping this question under review in the light of emerging evidence.

Secondary information