Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of women who did not have a smear test which was due during the covid-19 lockdown; and if he will make a statement.

We do not hold data on the number of estimated screens per month. Information on cervical screening uptake rates is published quarterly by NHS Digital and can be found on its website at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cervical-screening-programme/cervical-screening-programme-coverage-statistics-management-information

The last available data, published 21 April 2020, pertains to Q3 2019-20. The next set of data (Q4 2019-20) will be published in July 2020.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are aware that in some areas some providers of NHS Cervical Screening Programme services have, for operational reasons and to minimise risk to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, rescheduled some invitations or appointments to a later date. NHS England and NHS Improvement have been working with them to ensure this is managed safely for patients and with a view to rescheduling as soon as possible.