Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (Money)

Debate between Antonia Bance and Simon Opher

Money resolution
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Antonia Bance (Tipton and Wednesbury) (Lab)]

Last summer’s Labour manifesto included the words

“Fully costed, fully funded—built on a rock of fiscal responsibility”,

and they were words on which I was proud to be elected. Money resolutions are normally a formality, but not this one—not today. This resolution asks us to give a blank cheque to this Bill, which makes me nervous, because that sounds like something that we in this changed Labour party just do not do. When we put forward a proposal for public spending, we know how we will fund it.

[Dr Opher]

Will my hon. Friend give way?

[Antonia Bance]

No, I will not.

In the case of this Bill, we not only do not know how much it will cost or how it will be paid for, but we do not even know what the money will be spent on. Let us think of the questions that we do not know the answers to. What will be the cost of NHS doctors attending the final appointment and waiting while their patient dies? What will be the cost of a second doctor to sign off? What drugs will be used, and how much will they cost? Will assisted dying happen in hospitals, in hospices or in new, purpose-built facilities? How many will there be, and where?