Speeches by Tidball.

“I appreciate my hon. Friend bringing up that point. It is important to note that all Commonwealth jurisdictions that have assisted dying use the concept of mental capacity. We are basing the utility of the Mental Capacity Act not only on 20 years of the courts and medics dealing with it, but on the learning of other ju…”

“For clarity, I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland Central on what would strengthen the Bill. The exceptions only apply where the right and proper Mental Capacity Act process has been gone through and the person doing that assessment has arrived at the point that that person does not have capacity. It i…”

“I will make some progress. The concept set out by the hon. Member for Richmond Park is the bare bones of what is needed in the complex decision making required across various stages of the Bill. In such decision making, the MCA has a wide and well-used toolkit to determine capacity. That leads to my third point. The Me…”

“T3. Stocksbridge Speciality Steels in my constituency has world-leading specialist capability to produce high-grade steel parts currently used in aerospace. I am proud of this Government’s steel strategy, which will ensure we buy British for new infrastructure, and Great British Energy provides an ambitious opportunity…”

“Yes. Dr Richards: Maybe Nancy knows the evidence on that. Talking about gaps in research, I am an anthropologist, so I am interested in the discourse and the conversations that are happening, and I think there is a lack of evidence about that. We have a lot of evidence where it is tick boxes, for example, about motivat…”

“Q This is a question for Dan Scorer. I have worked with a learning disability charity, My Life My Choice. I have done a lot of work with that charity on self-advocacy in the context of healthcare, so I am really keen to hear from you. We know there are excellent initiatives that focus on supporting people with learning…”

“Q Dan, I am really keen that we ensure that if the Bill passes, the voices of disabled people are continually involved in understanding its impact, particularly on the issue that you have just raised. Earlier, we heard evidence about implementation taskforces that are used in other jurisdictions. I am considering tabli…”

“Q There are two elements to my question. The first element is talking through the available evidence on how those holistic processes work in countries that have assisted dying. Secondly, we have heard a lot about choice from witnesses across the last two days, but a lot of the consideration about choice is about enabli…”

“Or real-life examples? Dr Richards: So the question is: what is the evidence on trying to find out about this interactional space where you are asking about people’s motivations? Is that right?”

“Q My question is to Dr Richards, although if Claire Williams has anything to add, it would be really helpful. We have heard evidence from overseas about the value of doctors being able to have holistic discussions about end-of-life choices under an assisted dying law. What research is there on patient experiences in th…”

“I just want to make sure that it is on the record that I have been taught by Professor Hoyano; indeed, well before I was elected, she was a colleague at work.”

“Q This question is for Dr Furst and Professor Blake. Many of us on the Committee are committed to the need to protect disabled people and to ensuring that the Bill has as many safeguards in as possible. We heard evidence yesterday that anorexia may qualify under assisted dying laws in other jurisdictions. Have there be…”

“Q With respect, my question was about whether you think that, should the Bill go through Parliament, there should be some kind of body, possibly an advisory council, that disabled people in particular should be involved with. Your other point speaks to some evidence that we heard yesterday and earlier about the anchori…”

“Q Dr Graham, thank you for your written evidence, which was very helpful and stated your view that the strength of the clauses in the Bill make it compatible with the European convention on human rights in relation to article 2 on the right to life and article 14 on freedom from discrimination. Can you explain why you …”

“Q Just to clarify, that word is in clause 2(3). I will ask a question of Professor Tom Shakespeare first and then, if I may, I have a follow-up of Dr Miro Griffiths. Tom, why is it so important that disabled people have a choice? I made it very clear when I voted for the Bill on Second Reading that I would only do so b…”

“Q Thank you. That is extremely helpful. Clause 2(3)(a) and 2(3)(b) cover the point that you made about those groups, stating: “For the avoidance of doubt, a person is not to be considered to be terminally ill” just by those statuses. I am very interested to hear about the implementation taskforce. I am personally keen …”

“Q This question is for Professor Tom Shakespeare and Dr Miro Griffiths. One of the amendments I am backing would establish an advisory council on the impact of the Bill on disabled people, because I am passionate that we monitor the impact on that group of people, should the Bill pass through Parliament. What structure…”

“Q Looking ahead to our next panel, are you aware of any serious concerns being expressed by disabled people about the Australian assisted dying laws and any risks they might pose to this group? It would be very helpful to hear any recommendations you have with regard to building safeguards into the law that we are scru…”

“Q The second part of my question was this. You talked very eloquently, as did Professor Tom Shakespeare this morning, about the Bill enabling choice for those who want it, particularly those who believe it would give them a more dignified death, but could you expand on how it provides that element of dignity? Dr Neerki…”

“Q This is a question for Dr Neerkin. That was extremely helpful. We know that Tōtara hospice in New Zealand—one of the largest hospices there—has said that it does not think that assisted dying and palliative care are counter to each other, and that a system can work where they are running side by side. Can you touch o…”