asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her most recent estimate of the number of patients suffering from kidney disease, and unable to undergo a transplant operation for lack of matching tissue.

On 17th January there were 873 United Kingdom patients registered with the national organ matching and distribution service as waiting for a kidney transplant. This compares with a figure of 791 one year ago.

In view of those 873, are Ministers from my hon. Friend's Department planning to ask Government Whips to shout "Object" when the Kidney Transplant Bill comes up on 7th February?

Perhaps I should declare an interest. I was once a sponsor of a similar Bill introduced by my hon. Friend a few years ago. My sympathy is not, therefore in question. My hon. Friend must try to persuade my right hon. Friend the Chief Whip on this matter.

No, you.

Will the Minister say how many kidney transplant operations took place in the last year for which he has figures?

In 1974 the figure was 547.