§ Sir Dudley SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what part his Department played in the recent conference of European Health Ministers in Paris when organ transplantation was considered; whether the United Kingdom delegation subscribed to the final resolution adopted by the Ministers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieI took part in the conference of European Health Ministers in Paris in early November. We now have the largest number of people with a functioning transplanted organ of any European country. The provisional figures at the end of 1986 showed a total of over 7,000. Moreover we had legislation (the Human Tissue Act 1961) much earlier than most other countries, and I shared our experience with other delegates.
The conference provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on ethical, legislative, educational and organisational matters connected with organ transplantation. The conference also explored the possibility of increasing European co-operation in this field. I on behalf of the United Kingdom subscribed to the content of the final communiqué which set out Ministers' views on guidelines for future work in the field of organ transplants and made recommendations to the Council of Europe on the steps which might be taken to follow up the conference. A copy of the communiqué has been placed in the Library.