Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Lord Deben and Baroness Blake of Leeds

Committee stage
Friday 13th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for taking part in the debate so far today. As we know, this group of amendments focuses on two core subjects: first, adding a new multidisciplinary panel process into the Bill, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, and secondly, amendments in relation to approved substances. This is a large group of amendments. As ever, my comments will be limited to amendments where the Government have major legal or technical workability concerns.

On the suite of amendments tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, it is the Government’s view that, logically, these amendments stand or fall together, as they are a systemic change to the Bill. The amendments would introduce a new system of “assisted dying panels”, distinct from the existing assisted dying review panel in the Bill. These panels would receive and consider requests for assistance as part of the first declaration process, replacing the role of the co-ordinating doctor. The amendments would also introduce the concepts of “licensed assisted dying services”, “navigators for assisted dying”, and “designated” pharmacies. These are rightly policy choices and matters for the sponsor and for Parliament to decide on.

However, noble Lords may wish to note that it is the Government’s view that this package of amendments would lead to major technical, legal or operational workability concerns. The amendments introduce new concepts that would require significant further work to ensure that the policy intent was clearly understood and could work with the rest of the Bill.

[Lord Deben (Con)]

The point about the drugs and their control will surely have to be dealt with by the Government, whatever happens. What assessment have they made—surely they ought to make it in any circumstances—about how that should be done, what it would cost and how one can protect people from dangers which have happened? It seems to me that that is not a policy matter but a practical matter which we ought to understand from the Government.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I can only refer the noble Lord to previous comments that the details around these matters will be considered when progress is made. It is not appropriate for those matters of detail to be considered now. The noble Lord is shaking his head, but I think we are very clear about the responsibility of government at this moment in time, and it will be for my noble and learned friend to respond to the detail of policy as we go forward.

[Lord Deben (Con)]

If the Minister does not mind me saying so, this is a real problem. If we do not know—because only the Government can tell us—what the mechanism whereby drugs would be dealt with would be, how can we make decisions about this? We really need to know from the Government, under the present Bill, what in general the way in which they will deal with this is, otherwise we will have to put it into the Bill because we do not know. It really is important for the Government to help us.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I completely recognise the noble Lord’s strength of feeling, which he has expressed on many occasions. However, I just reaffirm that we would go through a process for determining the mechanism around the matters that he raises should the Bill progress, and that is a clear point from the Government in response to his—

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Lord Deben and Baroness Blake of Leeds

Committee stage
Friday 23rd January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Deben (Con)]

My Lords, we have asked the Minister on several occasions to give us the information that I think the Government still need to give us: what is the cost of doing these things? The letter does not meet that. She has just said that there would be difficulties, but we want to know the cost in detail, because it is for the Government to help the Committee to make decisions. Could she please say now, and, if not now, give the undertaking that she will investigate the cost, so we know how to make a decision?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My Lords, I was just about to go on to the whole issue of funding, which many noble Lords have raised throughout this morning’s debate. The Government’s position is absolutely clear on this. Should Parliament pass the Bill, the Government would work to undertake development of the delivery model. Until the parliamentary process is complete, we are making no assumptions as to what the delivery model for an assisted dying service would be or what the role of specific departments in delivering the service would be.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I do not think it is extraordinary, but I am sure the noble Lord will keep expressing his point of view.

[Lord Deben (Con)]

The Government can perfectly well say that they do not have a view on this, but, for Parliament to make a decision, surely they have to tell us whether, if we made this decision, they would have to change the basic principles of the National Health Service. That is the only question that we must ask. The Government must be able to tell us whether, if we make this decision, that is inevitable.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I am sure that the noble Lord and others will find other ways of asking the same question. I refer to my earlier answer.