Contributions
449 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)In the light of my hon. Friend’s points, I have an interesting fact that he might enjoy: “encourage” was added to the Suicide Act by the last Labour Government in 2009, and…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)rose—12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)One of the major concerns that we have heard from members of the public and MPs relates to the importance of ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place, so that people make…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)I completely recognise what my hon. Friend says, but there is another way to deal with the issue. Encouragement is already illegal. The other option is that we decriminalise it…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)I agree that that would have been helpful. We have spent many, many hours today debating these amendments, and having had advance notice would have allowed some reflection and…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)I thank the hon. Member for that point. I mean no disrespect in identifying a contradiction. A lot of us have talked quite differently about different things today and I have…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)I can confirm that I did not contact the promoter on this. My understanding is that if something is not legally coherent, it would normally be the Government who would contact the…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention and very much agree that we have had a rich conversation. We have taken much away from it. In closing, the amendments that I am pressing…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)It is really important that we are honest about what the Bill does. We are looking for a simple answer—yes or no. My hon. Friend the Member for East Wiltshire has very clearly set…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Eleventh sitting)It is the same question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for East Wiltshire: would someone be allowed to access assisted dying if it was clear that they had capacity and their…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)Clause 24 decriminalises assistance to commit suicide, in order that assisted dying becomes lawful. It does not specifically decriminalise encouragement, which means that the…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention. I know that she is wholeheartedly seeking to make sure that the safeguards in the Bill are as good as they can be, so I very much…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for that intervention. I think the point on probate is right; it is commonly used there, but it is not just used in that situation. My understanding is…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. The point that I would make is about an example that we talked about a lot yesterday, so I know that it resonates for many on the…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I completely agree. If we do not incorporate undue influence, we are at a lower threshold compared with withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. That does not feel to me like the…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)It is reassuring to hear that I am not the only one worried about this, so I thank the hon. Lady for that.12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I absolutely agree that such clarity would be very useful. The hon. Member and I both want to ensure that undue influence is captured somewhere; I am less picky about where. As…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)It is helpful to understand the Government’s position. If the amendment is not made, I hope that the Minister is right, but one thing that I have learned in my time is that…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)My hon. Friend’s point goes to the heart of the case, and to the point that I made earlier: it is extremely difficult when the Bill is a moving feast. We are tabling amendments to…12 Feb 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for sharing her view on that.12 Feb 2025