asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently registered as kidney donors; and what steps are being taken to encourage this registration by his Department.

There is no register of kidney donors, although people who wish to donate their kidneys are encouraged to record their wishes on a kidney donor card and carry this with them. My Department has given considerable publicity to the scheme and since it started in 1972 over 24 million cards have been issued. There are encouraging indications that the number of people possessing a kidney donor card has increased significantly recently.