§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the(a) Organs Inquiry Line and (b) Relatives Reference Group will close in November 2004. [154624]
§ Angela SmithThe Department's Human Organs Inquiry Line was launched in November 2002 in compliance with the recommendations of the Human Organs Inquiry, which the then Minister had accepted in full. In a leaflet issued to all householders last year the public were asked to note
that this telephone enquiry line and your opportunity to reclaim organs and tissue samples currently in storage will no longer be available after November 2004.This remains the position.
The Relatives' Reference Group was established by the then Minister in March 2001 at the same time as the Human Organs Inquiry. Its Terms of Reference were reviewed in July 2002 and its life extended for two years to assist with the implementation of the recommendations of the Human Organs Inquiry. In order to ensure that this role, which includes support for relatives who use the Enquiry Line, is maintained, it is anticipated that the work of the Group will also conclude at the end of 2004.