§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people signed onto the organ donor register. [154619]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonPeople are encouraged to join the organ donor register through a number of initiatives, including when they apply for a driving licence, register with a new general practitioner, or apply for a new passport. Additionally, UK Transplant runs publicity campaigns and targets action to raise the profile of organ donation, including specific advertising and information campaigns to increase organ donation from the South Asian and black African and Caribbean populations.
UK Transplant is currently running a pilot scheme with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to send out organ donor registration forms to all vehicle owners with the road tax reminder during January, March and April this year. The pilot will cover nine million vehicles and UK Transplant will assess the effectiveness of the pilot later in the year.
There are currently over 11 million people on the register—19 per cent. of the United Kingdom population.