MSP meets ministers for transplant laws talks

GLASGOW MSP Anne McTaggart met with government ministers from Northern Ireland and Wales to urge David Cameron to change the UK’s transplant laws.

The Labour politician attended an event in Belfast hosted by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which is campaigning for an opt-out system of organ donation.

Ms McTaggart met with Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services at the Welsh Assembl and Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Figures released at the meeting revealed that the UK has one of the lowest family authorisation rates in Europe at 59%.

The Welsh Assembly has already legis- lated for a ‘soft optout’ system, which will come into force in December, next year.

Both Anne McTaggart and Jo-Anne Dobson are proposing similar legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. The Evening Times is also campaigning for the change.

Anne McTaggart MSP said: “It’s important to learn from each other’s experiences as there are people across the UK who are depending upon this legislation being successful.”