Update from Alison Bennett MP on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
I was in Parliament today for another day of debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
The Report Stage continued today. This is where MPs consider and vote on amendments that have come from the detailed Committee Stage. When all votes on amendments have concluded, the Report Stage will end and we will move to the Third Reading when MPs will have the final vote in the House of Commons on this Bill before it progresses to the House of Lords for their consideration.
If you would like to read my previous two updates you can find them here:
- Second Reading and initial vote – 29th November 2024: https://www.midsussexlibdems.org.uk/news/article/alison-bennett-mp-terminally-ill-adults-end-of-life-bill
- Report Stage – 16th May 2025: https://www.midsussexlibdems.org.uk/news/article/update-from-alison-bennett-mp-on-the-terminally-ill-adults-end-of-life-bill
I attended the debate today and listened as members spoke in favour of and against specific amendments to the Bill.
At the end of the session, there were votes on three of the amendments.
- Amendment (b) to New Clause 14: New Clause 14 prohibits advertising of assisted dying services. I voted against the proposed amendment to this clause because it duplicates provisions already in place in a different section of this clause, so I do not consider it necessary. The amendment did not pass.
- New Clause 1: This would ban healthcare professionals from raising assisted dying with patients. The British Medical Association strongly opposes this clause because it believes the Bill as drafted gets the provisions right – it doesn’t create a duty to raise assisted dying with patients, nor a prohibition. I voted against this amendment and it did not pass.
- New Clause 2: This would ban healthcare professionals from raising assisted dying with under 18s. Under the Bill, only adults can access assisted dying. I voted against this clause because I am concerned that it could prevent healthcare professionals from having open and honest conversations with terminally ill under 18 year olds about options that may be open to them as adults which could then lead them to searching the internet and finding content that could impact their safety. However, this clause did pass and will form part of the final Bill that comes forward.
The Report Stage will continue next Friday, 20th June. I am not yet sure if it will move to the Third Reading for the final vote next week. Further parliamentary time is set aside in early July for the continuation of the debate if needed.
My team will now be working to rearrange my constituency meetings scheduled for next Friday so that I can attend again.
Based on the many hours of debate I have sat through, together with my consideration of the views shared by my residents and my own wider research, I think it appropriate to be transparent with you now that I am minded to vote for the legislation when it reaches the Third Reading.
As I have throughout, I will provide an update after next Friday’s debate.