Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using radio wave imaging technology, including the MARIA system, to screen people for breast cancer.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has looked at the evidence for offering extra breast screening tests, including breast density, in addition to standard mammography.

So far, the committee has found that the evidence for such technologies, although promising, is not yet strong enough for it to recommend that they be introduced into the NHS Breast Screening Programme. It has not looked specifically at the MARIA system.

The UK NSC continually monitors progress and remains interested in significant evidence that will allow improvements in breast screening. Any member of the public can submit a proposal to modify a screening programme during the UK NSC’s annual call.