HC Deb 13 January 2003 vol 397 cc423-4W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to extend the National Bone Marrow database to Northern Ireland. [88801]

Mr. Browne

The provision of tissue matched bone marrow is managed throughout the UK through the British Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The Blood Transfusion Service here, in conjunction with the local Tissue Typing Laboratory, is already a significant contributor to this Registry. There are approximately 7,000 local donors, of which around 50 have actually donated bone marrow.

The Anthony Nolan Trust and the International Bone Marrow Register also hold bone marrow registers, and there is co-operation between all registers.