§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest conveniently available figures for the shortage of matching tissues in relation to kidneys for transplant in Great Britain or England and Wales.
§ Dr. VaughanThe latest figures available from the United Kingdom transplant organ matching service at Bristol are that, at 31 March 1979, 1,147 people were on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in England and Wales. In the year ending 31 March 1979, 724 transplants were carried out in England and Wales. The figures for the same time last year yere 1,062 and 689.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the public attitude survey commissioned in March 1978, assessing the general public's attitude to kidney transplantation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThe main report of the survey carried out by Marplan in November 1978 was presented to the previous Government in March 1979, and we have now received the final section dealing with variations in different parts of the United Kingdom. We are arranging for publication and shall be studying the report carefully in deciding how best to bring about an improvement in the supply of kidneys available for transplantation.