"My Lords, may I, as the sponsor of the Bill, express my profound gratitude to the usual channels for making what amounts to 10 additional days available for the Bill? That means that, up to 24 April, there will be 16 days for consideration of the Bill through all its …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"My Lords, in this debate we heard deeply personal information from the noble Lords, Lord Empey, Lord McCrea, Lord Watts, Lord Polak, Lord Griffiths, Lord Carlile of Berriew and Lord Shinkwin, and the noble Baronesses, Lady Hollins, Lady Hayter and Lady Grey-Thompson. I express my profound respect for people being …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"The Bill makes it absolutely clear that it must be your own decision. Let us suppose that your views of the world are affected by the internet and that you are ill and an organisation is urging you to commit suicide, that organisation should be liable if that happens.
"I completely agree that the noble Lord and I might well not understand what people from different cultures would say, but the two doctors and a panel would have to understand that sufficiently to reach a conclusion. If they do not, they cannot provide the satisfaction that is required by …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"That will very much depend upon the number of people who apply from particular groups, and I think one can be pretty sure, on the basis of the impact assessment, that there will be sufficient numbers...." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"I do not feel insulted by being called “you”, but I do not think that the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, properly understands how the Bill operates. The two doctors and the panel have to be satisfied that the person is reaching a voluntary decision of their own, uncoerced and unpressured. …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"I think it would probably be sensible, unless the noble Lord has something to raise that we have not already dealt with, for me to make a bit of progress...." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"My Lords, first, I am sure that I will not be able to reach the high standard of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chester, but I will try.
Secondly, I do not think I am rejecting the principle of many of the amendments. I am saying that—for example, …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"In relation to the multidisciplinary team, Amendment 222 from the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, is a bit close to that but not quite there. On the question of encouragement, of course, the reason why the DPP’s guidelines refer to encouragement is that the criminal offence at the moment is encouraging …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech
"I think I answered that; the noble Lord may not have been satisfied with my answer, but I did answer it by saying that people have to be satisfied that the decision is voluntary and without coercion. If they do not know, because they cannot read adequately the community, they …..." Lord Falconer of Thoroton - View Speech