§ 34. Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on proposals for attaching a kidney donor card to driving licences.
§ Mr. MoyleA final decision on the proposals is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. Although sympathetic to the aims of the proposals, we have reluctantly concluded that practical difficulties would prevent us from approaching existing licence holders in this way except at disproportionate expense. It may, however, prove possible to send out a special kidney donor card with first provisional licences, and the Departments are examining this option.
§ 36. Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to deal with the shortage of donor kidneys for transplants; and if he will make a statement about the proposal of the Kidney Research Unit for Wales Foundation that the kidney donor card scheme should be updated to allow donor cards to be attached to lifetime driving licences.
§ Mr. MoyleMy Department will continue to promote kidney donor cards and where possible to encourage clinicians to be aware of the need for kidneys and to co-operate with transplant teams in the identification of potential donors. A final decision on the proposal of the kidney Research Unit for Wales Foundation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the118W Secretary of State for Transport. Although sympatheic to the aims of the proposal we have reluctantly concluded that practical difficulties would prevent us from approaching existing licence holders in this way except at disproportionate expense. It may, however, prove possible to send out a special kidney donor card with first provisional licences, and the Departments are examining this option.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had concerning the need to secure kidney donor card distribution with all new driving licences.
§ Mr. MoyleThis is a matter on which a final decision is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. Officials of the Departments have examined the feasibility of distributing kidney donor cards with all new driving licences, but we have reluctantly concluded that practical constraints would not permit this except at disproportionate expense. The possibility that a donor card might be sent out with first provisional licences, thus enabling us to approach approximately 1 million drivers a year, is being examined.