WELSH Conservatives will be allowed a free vote on a controversial bill on organ donation.

The draft Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill will pave the way for what the Welsh Government term a "soft opt-out" policy on organ and tissue donation.

Under the new system every Gwent resident over 18, who has lived in Wales for at least six months, will automatically be deemed to have consented to organ donation unless the specifically opt out.

Residents will also have the chance to specifically opt in to the scheme, which is hoped to raise number of people donating organs in Wales by an extra 15 people on the 67 who donated last year.

Commenting on the bill, Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said: "Organ donation is an emotive subject and it’s important to examine both the clinical evidence for and against the Welsh Government’s proposed approach to listen to the Welsh public during the coming weeks.

It remains a fact that some countries operating presumed consent systems have lower rates of organ donation so legislation should not be seen as a silver bullet to improving donation rates."