To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the planned new database for cervical screening will be in place by November 2017; and if he will make a statement.

NHS England is working with Primary Care Support England to develop a new information system for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme. A key element of this is a database to ensure women are managed accurately and safely through the programme. This will be particularly important when the programme converts from cytology screening to human papilloma virus primary screening by April 2019.

The new database is currently in development and is planned to be introduced from mid-2018. The original timeframe (first – second quarter 2017) was reviewed and revised to ensure the database solution is fit for purpose and implemented safely and effectively, to realise the intended benefits for service users.