§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals his Department has to promote the carrying of donor cards. [57527]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 22 May]The Department has a public information campaign with a current annual budget of £900,000 which funds a number of wide-ranging initiatives in England to raise the public's awareness of the shortage of organs for transplantation and to promote organ donor registration. A public information leaflet, incorporating the organ donor card is widely distributed, and is also available through the organ donor literature line. The campaign secures free TV airtime for short public information films, maintains a campaign website and has partnership arrangements with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Passport Agency, Rotarian Clubs, Boots the Chemist and with some banks who have chosen to support organ donation.
690W The Department runs a special campaign to raise awareness among members of the Asian community and a similar campaign targeting the African and African-Caribbean communities has recently been launched. These campaigns include public information leaflets and targeted advertising.
The Department also helps raise awareness by funding the work of some voluntary organisations through the Section 64 grant scheme. This includes funding for the British transplant games to be held in August 2002.