HC Deb 28 February 1984 vol 55 cc129-31
12. Mr. Dalyel

I asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what criteria he will judge in 1985 whether his campaign to encourage the donation of kidneys has been a failure.

Mr. Fowler

The main criterion of success will be the increase in the number of transplant operations. There is no set target for achievement within the year but we shall be looking at all the available evidence about the expansion of transplants and the wider impact of the campaign. I very much hope that the campaign will lead to many more people carrying donor cards.

Mr. Dalyell

Since, by the laws of human nature, fatal accidents tend to be things that we think happen to other people and not to ourselves, and since most of us do not care to contemplate our own demise, why should the Secretary of State's campaign have any more success than the energetic and good faith campaigns of his predecessors, both Conservative and Labour? As a poll now shows that 71 per cent. are in favour of an opt-out scheme, may not public attitudes have changed since the original Marplan poll?

Mr. Fowler

The hon. Gentleman has raised two important points. He asks why the scheme should be more successful, but the fact is that that poll shows that 5 million people are now carrying cards and that 93 per cent. of the population have heard of the donor card system. I pay tribute to the BBC's programme "That's Life" and to what it has done. Public opinion has changed. We are now looking not so much at the opting-out as at the opting-in proposals. I am studying the practicalities of that, but in the meantime I hope that the scheme that we have put forward for the extension of donor cards will receive the widespread support of both the House and the public.

Mr. Alexander

My right hon. Friend has tole: us how many people carry the cards, but does that not still mean that only about one in 10 of the population carry them? If, despite that statistic, the "That's Life" programme and the campaign, my right hon. Friend finds that the scheme is not working, will he consider the provision of an opting-out system?

Mr. Fowler

We shall certainly keep the whole matter under review. I am actively considering the opting-in system, in which names are put on a computer, and we are working out the practicalities of that. That would provide a more constructive approach and would receive a broad measure of public support.

Mr. Ashley

As the Secretary of State has just conceded that public opinion has changed— and the credit for that belongs not to the BBC but to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) —surely he must also recognise the importance of that. Governments have refused the opting-out system because of public opinion. Now that public opinion is in favour of such a system, the Government should move immediately towards it, as it would definitely save lives.

Mr. Fowler

I hear and respect what the right hon. Gentleman says. I must point out to him that in 1979 a public opinion poll showed precisely the opposite result. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that public opinion has changed on this, but I think that it would be unwise to read too much into one poll. I hope he will agree with me that the sensible way to proceed is to expand the donor card system while at the same time considering the alternatives.

Mr. Maclennan

Will the Secretary of State consider conducting a private inquiry among Members of the House of Commons to find out whether they carry donor cards —[Interruption.]—because they should give a lead? If the proportion of cards carried by Members of Parliament is lower than that carried by the general public, something might be done about it.

Mr. Fowler

With respect, it is very much up to each individual Member of the House to make his or her own decision. If hon. Members want my advice, I hope that they will carry donor cards.

Sir Anthony Grant

In forming his judgment, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the success of the remarkable transplant operation carried out at Addenbrookes hospital in my constituency on the little boy, Ben Hardwick? Will he consider sending congratulations to all concerned? In forming his view, will he do all he can to ensure that that sort of success can be repeated for future generations?

Mr. Fowler

I certainly share in my hon. Friend's congratulations and praise for the team at Addenbrookes who carried out that difficult operation. One of the effects has been that the public have seen the point of the donor card system and the transplant campaign.

Mr. Alfred Morris

In response to what is clearly a strong feeling on both sides of the House, will the Minister take an early opportunity to make a statement on the practicalities of introducing a system of opting-out?

Mr. Fowler

As I have said twice, I am considering the practicalities of the opting-in system, which is slightly different from what the right hon. Gentleman is suggesting. Certainly I shall seek to make the results of my inquiries known to the House as soon as I have them.