Thank you, Minister, for that response. I’d just like to specifically refer to cervical screening, if I may. I think we all agree on the benefits of early diagnosis of cancer wherever possible, but this also raises the question of the appropriate age at which certain screening should start. I don’t know whether I’m alone in being approached by constituents calling for cervical screening for women to revert to screening at age 20, but certainly I’ve been contacted along those lines.

I’m aware, of course, that the decision to raise the age from 20 to 25 in 2013 was based on guidance from the UK national screening committee, which not only questioned the benefits of early screening but also highlighted some of the potential harm in routine screening on women below the age of 25. In that context, the roll-out of the HPV vaccine to schoolgirls from the age of 12 to 13 has been very welcome, as has the primary testing for HPV as part of the screening process.

However, my main concern in relation to cervical cancer screening relates to the slight fall in the percentage of women who are presenting for screening. In particular, it’s noticeably lower in deprived areas. Would the Minister agree with me that, alongside the changes that we are seeing in cervical cancer screening, there is a need to ensure that there’s a key role for Welsh Government and all healthcare providers not only to play their part in raising awareness amongst patients of the screening provisions, but also in operating what NICE termed the low threshold of suspicion when considering referrals for testing? That is the threshold at which, based on symptoms, a GP or care provider takes the decision to refer a patient for further tests.