Peers granted more time to scrutinise assisted suicide bill

The House of Lords has been given another 10 days to discuss the Leadbeater Bill on assisted suicide after fears they would run out of time. During the current committee stage peers have only been able to discuss around 30 of over 1,000 amendments added to the Bill.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced by MP Kim Leadbeater to Parliament as a Private Members Bill. As such, it needs to be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before the end of the current session of Parliament in the Spring.

The government’s chief ship in the Lords, Lord Kennedy, has now given 10 more Fridays for peers to continue their discussions. These days for debate will be spread out over the New Year from 9 January to 24 April.

Lord Kennedy said that it is “clear the House needs additional time to scrutinise the Bill”. He went on to say, “I also believe given the importance of the subject and the number of colleagues wishing to participate, that this scrutiny could not take place in the Grand Committee, as some have suggested to me.”

Kim Leadbeater has accused opponents of the Bill of using amendments to slow down the process and prevent the Bill from being passed. She said, “some of the processes and procedures that can be used are being used to frustrate the bill, and that is deeply disappointing and upsetting.”

She welcomed the additional days of debate, saying, “It is right that peers use their expertise and experience to properly scrutinise the Bill and propose improvements to strengthen it where necessary”.

Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, who opposes the Bill, said the discussion was “a thorough debate, scrutinising significant issues including the devolution implications of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill and the use of the Mental Capacity Act”. She added that: “Peers are now doing the job MPs were unable to do, making sure this bill can be safe and workable.”

Baroness Luciana Berger, who also opposes Leadbeater’s Bill has said: “This bill is full of holes which vulnerable people will fall through and be harmed if peers don't act to change and amend it”.