Found: When it comes to the Assisted Dying Bill, “this bill in terms of supporting people who might do it due

Found: Committee, 26 June 2025, para 6, page 3 3 Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, Assisted Dying Bill

Found: Additionally, the ongoing controversy surrounding the Assisted Dying Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim

Found: I have another private Member’s Bill, which is about to be timed out because of the assisted dying Bill

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 July [HL8983] about the paybill of the Department for Health and Social Care, why they did not make the provision of high quality palliative care a major priority.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the Government’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.

Additionally, I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS875) that was made to the House on 22 July 2025, which stated:

“It has been brought to my attention that a written answer given to Lord Scriven contained inaccurate information related to the work of the Department for Health and Social Care.

The reply to written Parliamentary Question HL8983, tabled by Lord Scriven on 30 June 2025, stated that “the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities.” The answer then went on to list a number of areas which have required additional staff resource within the Department. The Assisted Dying Bill has required additional resource but should not have been referred to as a Government priority given the Government’s neutrality on the issue.

For clarity, the answer should read:

“The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.

Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.

Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.”

I would like to apologise for any confusion.”

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 July (HL8983), which Minister took the decision to make the "Assisted Dying Bill" a major priority of the Government, when they took that decision and why.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS875) which was made to the House on 22 July 2025, which stated:

“It has been brought to my attention that a written answer given to Lord Scriven contained inaccurate information related to the work of the Department for Health and Social Care.

The reply to written Parliamentary Question HL8983, tabled by Lord Scriven on 30 June 2025, stated that “the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities.” The answer then went on to list a number of areas which have required additional staff resource within the Department. The Assisted Dying Bill has required additional resource but should not have been referred to as a Government priority given the Government’s neutrality on the issue.

For clarity, the answer should read:

“The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.

Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.

Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.”

I would like to apologise for any confusion.”

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the collection DHSC: workforce management information, why the total paybill and staffing costs have increased by more than £20 million since July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.

Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. These include the 10-Year Health Plan, the Assisted Dying Bill, ending the longest-running pay dispute with resident doctors, publishing an elective reform plan, and publishing a new NHS Mandate, as well as ensuring we can continue to deliver vital services across the health system. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.

Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.

Found: 13 June, 20 June, 4 July and 11 July 27 Standing Order No.14(9) 28 Hansard Society, The Assisted Dying Bill

Found: In our previous report on an Assisted Dying Bill, we said that the practical operation of the Bill was

Found: of publication, the British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man had approved and passed the Assisted Dying Bill

Found: the issue a number of times House of Lords 3 In 2003 Lord Joffe introduced his Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill

Found: mis Mawrth 2025) 63 Coleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion (2024), RCPsych comments on vote for assisted dying Bill

Found: of publication, the British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man had approved and passed the Assisted Dying Bill

Found: 13 June, 20 June, 4 July and 11 July 27 Standing Order No.14(9) 28 Hansard Society, The Assisted Dying Bill

Access to Justice APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: headlines a number of times, with summer riots, the prisons crisis, and the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill

Access to Justice APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: headlines a number of times, with summer riots, the prisons crisis, and the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill

Down Syndrome APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Assisted Dying Bill 6.1 Update Meeting with Kim Leadbeater (KL) and Kit Malthouse (i) KL convened

Access to Justice APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: headlines a number of times, with summer riots, the prisons crisis, and the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill

Access to Justice APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: headlines a number of times, with summer riots, the prisons crisis, and the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill

Down Syndrome APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The Assisted Dying Bill (ADB) 5.1 Speech from Tommy Jessop (actor and advocate) on behalf of the National

Access to Justice APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: headlines a number of times, with summer riots, the prisons crisis, and the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill

Shakespeare APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: of ‘To be, or not to be’ by poin@ng out its relevance to the then-impending debate on the Assisted Dying Bill

Down Syndrome APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The Assisted Dying Bill RR relayed concerns from individuals and groups in the community regarding

Found: above legislation and regulation and have already been used to support decision making on the Assisted Dying Bill

Found: of publication, the British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man had approved and passed the Assisted Dying Bill

Found: Dear team, I’m hoping to set up a meeting for Shona with Liam McArthur MSP to discuss the Assisted Dying Bill

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its consideration of any potential assisted dying legislation, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possible need for a section 30 order to advance any such legislation in Scotland.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is a Member’s Bill, not a Scottish Government Bill.

The UK Government will be aware of the Scottish Government’s view, as set out in the Memorandum submitted to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, that the Bill as introduced is outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and that further processes would have to be gone through in order to bring it within competence. That Memorandum sets out that the issue of what steps will be required to bring the Bill within competence will require to be revisited should the Bill pass the Stage 1 vote.

The memorandum to the Committee can be found on the Scottish Parliament’s website at: Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults SG Memorandum.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its consideration of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, what its position is on reported concerns that, should the Bill proceed without a section 30 order, it may risk undermining the devolution settlement.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

As set out in the Memorandum submitted to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 30 September 2024, the Scottish Government’s view is that the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, in its current form, is outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and that further processes would have to be gone through in order to bring it within competence.

If the Bill passes at Stage 1, the issue of what steps will be required to bring the Bill within competence will need to be revisited.

The memorandum to the Committee can be found on the Scottish Parliament website at: Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults SG Memorandum.