Lords committee stage tenth day. Clause 4 under consideration.

Lords committee stage tenth day. Clause 4 under consideration.

Moved by

Baroness Cass

122: Clause 4, page 2, line 24, at end insert “and a Voluntary Assisted Dying Director”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and other amendments in the name of Baroness Cass seek to separate the role of Voluntary Assisted Dying Director and Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner, and are intended to address...

Moved by

Baroness Cass

122: Clause 4, page 2, line 24, at end insert “and a Voluntary Assisted Dying Director”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment and other amendments in the name of Baroness Cass seek to separate the role of Voluntary Assisted Dying Director and Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner, and are intended to address...

My Lords, I will be brief, because I believe that my Amendment 122 and the consequential amendments that follow it address a very straightforward and practical issue—saying that could be the kiss of death, but never mind. It is absolutely self-evident that, if this Bill passes into law, the monitoring...

My Lords, I will be brief, because I believe that my Amendment 122 and the consequential amendments that follow it address a very straightforward and practical issue—saying that could be the kiss of death, but never mind. It is absolutely self-evident that, if this Bill passes into law, the monitoring...

I will speak briefly to my amendment in this group because it is my duty shortly to chair the Committee. To broaden the debate that the noble Baroness, Lady Cass, introduced, I simply say that there is clearly a need to establish that this post can have confidence and a...

I will speak briefly to my amendment in this group because it is my duty shortly to chair the Committee. To broaden the debate that the noble Baroness, Lady Cass, introduced, I simply say that there is clearly a need to establish that this post can have confidence and a...

My Lords, I am grateful that the noble Lord was able to introduce his remarks before he has to go and perform his functions as chairman of the Committee. I have only a few things to say, and my amendment is discrete, in the sense that it does not really...

My Lords, I am grateful that the noble Lord was able to introduce his remarks before he has to go and perform his functions as chairman of the Committee. I have only a few things to say, and my amendment is discrete, in the sense that it does not really...

My Lords, I will speak to three amendments in this group, two of which stand in my name. The third is Amendment 128 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Foster, which I have co-signed and will touch on briefly now.

Amendment 128 is essentially probing in nature. The Bill...

My Lords, I will speak to three amendments in this group, two of which stand in my name. The third is Amendment 128 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Foster, which I have co-signed and will touch on briefly now.

Amendment 128 is essentially probing in nature. The Bill...

My Lords, I will introduce Amendment 144A in my name. It is related to my other Amendments 726A and 728A, which are grouped much later and to which I do not expect to speak. I draw attention to my registered interests.

When I was at the Winton Centre in Cambridge, I...

My Lords, I will introduce Amendment 144A in my name. It is related to my other Amendments 726A and 728A, which are grouped much later and to which I do not expect to speak. I draw attention to my registered interests.

When I was at the Winton Centre in Cambridge, I...

My Lords, I rise to speak briefly to my Amendment 134, which is a probing amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Weir, drew our attention to Clause 4(4), which sets out what he referred to as the functions of the assisted dying commissioner. In fact, the text refers to the “principal...

My Lords, I rise to speak briefly to my Amendment 134, which is a probing amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Weir, drew our attention to Clause 4(4), which sets out what he referred to as the functions of the assisted dying commissioner. In fact, the text refers to the “principal...

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendments 135 and 436 in my name. These two amendments relate to one of the specific functions just elaborated by the noble Lord, Lord Moylan. Amendment 135 would create in Clause 4 a specific duty on the commissioner of ensuring that paperwork relating to...

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendments 135 and 436 in my name. These two amendments relate to one of the specific functions just elaborated by the noble Lord, Lord Moylan. Amendment 135 would create in Clause 4 a specific duty on the commissioner of ensuring that paperwork relating to...

My Lords, my Amendment 144 relates to those tabled by my noble friend Lord Frost, who has made many of the points I was about to make. To add to what my noble friend has said, he used the word “paperwork” all the way through his remarks, and he outlined...

My Lords, my Amendment 144 relates to those tabled by my noble friend Lord Frost, who has made many of the points I was about to make. To add to what my noble friend has said, he used the word “paperwork” all the way through his remarks, and he outlined...

My Lords, I have two amendments in this group. Amendment 139 simply requires the commissioner to report to Parliament, and in Amendment 913 I have tried to ensure the independence and freedom from bias of the commissioner and staff. The voluntary assisted dying commissioner, as the public figurehead of an...

My Lords, I have two amendments in this group. Amendment 139 simply requires the commissioner to report to Parliament, and in Amendment 913 I have tried to ensure the independence and freedom from bias of the commissioner and staff. The voluntary assisted dying commissioner, as the public figurehead of an...

Is there not a critical difference, when we talk about conflicts of interest, in that, in this case, this will be law—something that has been passed by Parliament? I do not believe that, in any public appointment, being supportive of a law of the land is deemed to be a...

Is there not a critical difference, when we talk about conflicts of interest, in that, in this case, this will be law—something that has been passed by Parliament? I do not believe that, in any public appointment, being supportive of a law of the land is deemed to be a...

The point that I was trying to make, and I am sorry if I have not expressed it properly, is that there is a huge amount of discretion here and the commissioner will be the person who appoints the panels. In a way, by assessing the

work of the panels,...

The point that I was trying to make, and I am sorry if I have not expressed it properly, is that there is a huge amount of discretion here and the commissioner will be the person who appoints the panels. In a way, by assessing the

work of the panels,...

I apologise for interrupting, but I am a little confused. It seems that there is a considerable principled difference between expertise and conflict of interest. People who have been involved in assisted dying have expertise; they do not necessarily have a conflict of interest. You can be a professional, as...

I apologise for interrupting, but I am a little confused. It seems that there is a considerable principled difference between expertise and conflict of interest. People who have been involved in assisted dying have expertise; they do not necessarily have a conflict of interest. You can be a professional, as...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for that intervention, because expertise is not ruled out. It is the way that the commission functions that is important—that that does not allow skewing and silencing. What I was going on to point out is that one of the commissioners on the...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for that intervention, because expertise is not ruled out. It is the way that the commission functions that is important—that that does not allow skewing and silencing. What I was going on to point out is that one of the commissioners on the...

My Lords, my remarks follow on, very usefully, from those of the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff. She made some points I was going to make, so I will not make them, but I will make some others.

We should consider the interaction between the rather murky world of politics...

My Lords, my remarks follow on, very usefully, from those of the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff. She made some points I was going to make, so I will not make them, but I will make some others.

We should consider the interaction between the rather murky world of politics...

Is the noble Baroness not concerned, as I am, that we are conflating expertise with bias? People think that because somebody is expert, they are independent. It does not necessarily follow. There could be people who are expert but at the same time very biased in their approach to any...

Is the noble Baroness not concerned, as I am, that we are conflating expertise with bias? People think that because somebody is expert, they are independent. It does not necessarily follow. There could be people who are expert but at the same time very biased in their approach to any...

I think that is self-evidently true in the real world, if I can put it that way.

I note that the present Prime Minister is himself personally not neutral. As we now well know, he promised Esther Rantzen that assisted dying would be made legal, although that was not a promise...

I think that is self-evidently true in the real world, if I can put it that way.

I note that the present Prime Minister is himself personally not neutral. As we now well know, he promised Esther Rantzen that assisted dying would be made legal, although that was not a promise...

If I may intervene again, let me say that this is a post which will happen only if the law has been passed by Parliament. I am not aware—but perhaps the noble Baroness can help me—if there is any other public appointment process which says that someone cannot be in...

If I may intervene again, let me say that this is a post which will happen only if the law has been passed by Parliament. I am not aware—but perhaps the noble Baroness can help me—if there is any other public appointment process which says that someone cannot be in...

I should clarify that I do not anticipate that those who have reservations about assisted dying will be queuing up to be the commissioner. I am not at all arguing that the commissioner could not be an enthusiast, but what happens if they become an activist and an advocate for...

I should clarify that I do not anticipate that those who have reservations about assisted dying will be queuing up to be the commissioner. I am not at all arguing that the commissioner could not be an enthusiast, but what happens if they become an activist and an advocate for...