Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the recent review by the UK National Screening Committee of evidence on prostate cancer screening considered the potential value for money of adopting (a) shorter and (b) simplified MRI protocols, including biparametric MRI, to reduce unit costs of prostate cancer screening in NHS settings.  [111606]

[Due for Answer on 12 February. Answered on 2 March.]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention (Ashley Dalton): The evidence considered by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is available in the consultation on their prostate cancer recommendation page at the following link:

https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/prostate-cancer/

The pathway considered the use of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging as per National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

It is important to note that cost effectiveness is only one of the criteria that the UK NSC uses to assess the case for screening. Benefits, harms, acceptability, feasibility, and test characteristics are all important.