To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the difference between the reported rates of public support for organ donation and outcomes in securing organ donations; and if he will make a statement. (188628)

Research carried out by UK Transplant in 2003 showed that 90 per cent. of people state their support for organ donation, but only 25 per cent. of people register on the Organ Donor Register. In its first report, the Organ Donation Taskforce placed great emphasis on understanding the reasons for this, along with the relatively high levels of family refusal to donation and this will be reflected during the implementation phase. The Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) has asked the Taskforce to continue its work in order to look at the potential impact of a system of presumed consent for organ donation.