Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

Committee stage
Friday 21st November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Lab)]

I was talking to the debate on coercion, because there is no check on it for the existing way of ending one’s life early, which is to go to Dignitas. I was asking whether, if the Bill is changed in the way that, for example, the noble Lady, Lady Hollins, would like, she would then support it.

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

My Lords, before the noble Baroness sits down, there are two separate situations here, and I wonder whether she agrees. One is that there are many of us who do not like the Bill, but there is a real probability that the Bill will pass, and if it passes, we want it better than it is at the moment. Consequently, we are not wasting time.

[Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Lab)]

I was not suggesting wasting time. I was asking whether, if these changes were agreed, people would then allow the Bill to proceed.

Investigatory Powers Bill

Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

Monday 12th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

My Lords, I have not spoken often on this Bill but felt impelled to say that what the noble Lord, Lord Lester, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Brown, have said is extremely good sense and the Government should follow it.

[Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Lab)]

My Lords, given what has been said, I have little to add. I was born in Germany after the war, when it was so easy to define national security. It was about people coming over our border. Today, it is about our streets and about keeping people safe at home and abroad. I look forward to the noble Earl’s response. I do not think it is wise to try to define national security in the Bill, not simply because of the complications but because the definition changes. I know that it is a long time since I was born, but even over the next five years the definition will change again. We look forward to hearing the Government’s comments.