Thank you very much for that question. I absolutely agree with you, obviously, that early detection of cancer is crucial, because it allows for a combination of more effective and less intensive treatments for the individual and, obviously, the better outcomes that that will lead to.

In addition to the screening programmes, it is important that the 2015 NICE guidance for the recognition and referral of suspected cancer is embedded in clinical practice to ensure that the health service identifies more cancers at an early stage. I agree with you there. We’ve developed a programme of support for primary care, in partnership with Macmillan, called the framework for cancer and that’s being led through the Wales cancer network. There are also provisions in the GP contract as well to support practice-based learning and further work through the cancer network to support better access to testing.

You referred to the issue of the 2012 UK national screening committee’s recommendation on ceasing cervical screening for those women aged 20 to 24. You’ll be aware that the screening committee is an expert voice, basing its decisions and advice to all UK Government Ministers on the evidence, and the evidence does show that cervical cancer screening for women under 25 offers little protection as abnormalities are very common within this age group and are usually self-limiting. Furthermore, the detection of abnormalities through screening in women under 25 does lead to considerable over-treatment and that can lead to later problems with pregnancy and so on.

Going on to the point you raised about the slight fall in uptake, which is a concern to all of us—but particularly of concern is the inequality in uptake. We know that people in more affluent communities are much more likely to take up all of our screening programmes, actually, than those living in poorer communities. For our programmes to reach their potential, we have to ensure that we reach out to all communities.

So, how do we do that? I think a combination of awareness raising, which you referred to, and more simple and practical testing and easier testing is important as well, which is why our move to HPV testing for cervical cancer and FIT testing for bowel cancer will be so important in that regard as well. We do have a screening engagement team in Public Health Wales, which is working with public health teams, health boards and primary care to raise uptake amongst particularly hard-to-reach groups. I can certainly write to the Member with some examples of what’s taking place as well.