I understand my hon. Friend's concern. I think that this issue was debated during proceedings on a private Member's Bill during the last Parliament, although I am not sure whether we have had a debate on it in this Parliament. It sounds to me an admirable subject for a debate...

I understand my hon. Friend's concern. I think that this issue was debated during proceedings on a private Member's Bill during the last Parliament, although I am not sure whether we have had a debate on it in this Parliament. It sounds to me an admirable subject for a debate...

A very important matter for many Members is the law criminalising assisted suicide. Bearing in mind the expectation of a campaign to try to change this law, will my right hon. Friend ensure that Members have an opportunity to express their views on this issue early in the new year?

A very important matter for many Members is the law criminalising assisted suicide. Bearing in mind the expectation of a campaign to try to change this law, will my right hon. Friend ensure that Members have an opportunity to express their views on this issue early in the new year?

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are advised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on (1) the number of assisted suicide cases passed to the CPS by the police, (2) the number of assisted suicide cases the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decides it is not in the public...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are advised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on (1) the number of assisted suicide cases passed to the CPS by the police, (2) the number of assisted suicide cases the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decides it is not in the public...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 238W, on euthanasia, what representations he has received on the professional guidance issued by the Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 238W, on euthanasia, what representations he has received on the professional guidance issued by the Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals in order to place on a statutory basis the current guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of assisted suicide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals in order to place on a statutory basis the current guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of assisted suicide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is available to healthcare professionals caring for dying patients who request medical assistance to hasten their death.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is available to healthcare professionals caring for dying patients who request medical assistance to hasten their death.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it remains their policy to oppose the legalisation of euthanasia.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it remains their policy to oppose the legalisation of euthanasia.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the comments on euthanasia by Martin Green, the Government’s National Dementia Champion for the Independent Sector, in the Daily Telegraph on 28 August reflect the policies of Her Majesty’s Government.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the comments on euthanasia by Martin Green, the Government’s National Dementia Champion for the Independent Sector, in the Daily Telegraph on 28 August reflect the policies of Her Majesty’s Government.

(2) what recent representations he has received on the recent statements by his Department's Dementia Champion on assisted dying; what response he gave to the representations; and if he will make a statement.

(2) what recent representations he has received on the recent statements by his Department's Dementia Champion on assisted dying; what response he gave to the representations; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Dementia Champion on assisted suicide; what his policy is on assisted suicide; and if he will make a statement;

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Dementia Champion on assisted suicide; what his policy is on assisted suicide; and if he will make a statement;

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will conduct a review of the operation of the Suicide Act 1961 in relation to the law on assisted suicide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will conduct a review of the operation of the Suicide Act 1961 in relation to the law on assisted suicide.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in their policy on assisted dying, they will take into account Motion 305, passed by the British Medical Association in June, concerning the association's opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in their policy on assisted dying, they will take into account Motion 305, passed by the British Medical Association in June, concerning the association's opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia.

My Lords, I can be brief on behalf of the Opposition. We support the Bill and warmly congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hunt of Wirral, on the calm, reasonable and above all clear way in which he moved this debate. We have come to expect that of him over the...

My Lords, I can be brief on behalf of the Opposition. We support the Bill and warmly congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hunt of Wirral, on the calm, reasonable and above all clear way in which he moved this debate. We have come to expect that of him over the...

My Lords, I speak in the gap—and I am grateful for the House’s indulgence in allowing me to do so—to make just one short point on the Bill. It is an excellent Bill and I thoroughly support it. I agree with everything that has been said in support of it...

My Lords, I speak in the gap—and I am grateful for the House’s indulgence in allowing me to do so—to make just one short point on the Bill. It is an excellent Bill and I thoroughly support it. I agree with everything that has been said in support of it...

I was very careful to say that the honourable gentleman was in the vicinity of the Chamber because I was about to fall into error, I know.

I was very careful to say that the honourable gentleman was in the vicinity of the Chamber because I was about to fall into error, I know.

My Lords, from the mild titter that went round the House when the noble Lord, Lord Bach, said that I would not need the expert advice that he had needed, we can all assume that there was a little irony in that statement. I know that there was no truth...

My Lords, from the mild titter that went round the House when the noble Lord, Lord Bach, said that I would not need the expert advice that he had needed, we can all assume that there was a little irony in that statement. I know that there was no truth...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a partner in the international commercial law firm Beachcroft LLP and the other interests recorded in the register. First, I pay tribute to the Law Commission. The Law Commission was, in fact, created by the Law Commissions Act 1965, which was the year...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a partner in the international commercial law firm Beachcroft LLP and the other interests recorded in the register. First, I pay tribute to the Law Commission. The Law Commission was, in fact, created by the Law Commissions Act 1965, which was the year...

My Lords, I support the Bill. I am not a lawyer, but I congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Hunt and Lord Marks, on very clear legal presentations. It came across to me as fascinating, obscure territory where quite a big issue of justice is at stake. In many ways, I...

My Lords, I support the Bill. I am not a lawyer, but I congratulate the noble Lords, Lord Hunt and Lord Marks, on very clear legal presentations. It came across to me as fascinating, obscure territory where quite a big issue of justice is at stake. In many ways, I...

My Lords, while I declare an interest as a practising barrister, I should add that I have never conducted a case in this precise area of the law, so while I am grateful to my noble friend for looking at me when suggesting that experts in this area of the...

My Lords, while I declare an interest as a practising barrister, I should add that I have never conducted a case in this precise area of the law, so while I am grateful to my noble friend for looking at me when suggesting that experts in this area of the...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has contributed to this debate, which has greatly enhanced the reputation of this House as the Chamber in which we can hear from experts in their field. Certainly, my noble friend Lord Marks of Henley on Thames is widely respected outside this House for...

My Lords, I thank everyone who has contributed to this debate, which has greatly enhanced the reputation of this House as the Chamber in which we can hear from experts in their field. Certainly, my noble friend Lord Marks of Henley on Thames is widely respected outside this House for...