To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what responses he has received to the draft circular on the provision of donor organs for transplantation; and if he will state what further action he is contemplating to continue the increase in the numbers of transplant operations.

The Welsh Office has consulted on the Hoffenberg report and we are keeping in touch with the Department of Health's consideration of its draft circular. Funds have been made available by the Welsh Office to Lifeline Wales to facilitate the increased identification of potential organ donors.

In that case, can my hon. Friend state when the final draft of the circular will be in circulation, and can he confirm that the outcome will be reviewed two years later, as promised by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, so that we may then move to a system of required request as surely the only way to make even more substantial progress in this important matter?

My hon. Friend will know that the medical Royal Colleges working party considered that effective procedures as recommended in its report were preferable to the approach envisaged in his Transplant Notification Bill. We undertake to consider legislation if the recommended procedures are not successful.