Statement: Private Members’ Bill: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading

Statement from Paul Foster MP Private Members’ Bill: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading

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I would like to begin by thanking everyone who has contacted me over the past few weeks with their personal messages regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. I have received a significant amount of correspondence both in favour of and against the Bill, which has been debated today in Parliament.

Last week, I hosted a well-attended open event in South Ribble, where residents had the chance to air their views and concerns in person. Additionally, a recent poll of South Ribble residents shows that the majority are in favour of Assisted Dying. I truly feel that I am going into this debate representing the sentiments of the majority of residents in South Ribble.

With all of the above in mind, today I will be voting in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Although I have some reservations about certain proposed safeguards, I am comfortable at this early stage, during the second reading, that the Bill should proceed to the Committee Stage. This will allow for thorough scrutiny by MPs and experts. The Committee Stage will involve a line-by-line examination, revealing more details and highlighting any issues. This will ensure that robust provisions and safeguards are rigorously examined and debated. 

To become law, the Bill must go through numerous further stages. The next stages will see the Bill being scrutinised at the Committee Stage, after which the Committee will produce a report that will return to the House for MPs to debate during the Report Stage. After any amendments are made, it will then come back to the House for a Third Reading. These stages will then be repeated in the House of Lords before the Bill finally receives Royal Assent, if indeed it gets to that stage. This process could take up to two years.

My decision to vote in favour of this Bill at the second reading does not mean I have completely made up my mind. I will remain open-minded and continue to listen to residents, peers, and experts, but I am keen to see Parliament do its job to more deeply scrutinise the Bill in the next stages.

Thank you once again for your engagement and for sharing your views on this important issue. Your input is invaluable, and I am committed to representing your concerns and perspectives as we move forward in this process, whatever the outcome may be.

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