- 20/06/2025
- Posted by: Valerie Vaz MP
- Category: News
The House of Commons met to debate the next stages of the Bill on 13 and 20 June 2025. The amendments that I tabled were grouped in Group 2 to be debated on but I did not push them to a vote. My amendments were:
1 1A. Amendment to require consultation for guidance on the operation of the Act.
Clause 37: This amendment would amend clause 37, requiring the Chief Medical Officer to consult people from BAME communities, and advocate groups representing those communities before issuing guidance on the operation of the Act.
Clause 37, page 28, line 14, at end insert-
“(ii) persons from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and advocate groups representing those communities, and
(iii) representatives of the healthcare sector, including persons who work in hospices.”
2 Annual reporting
Clause 45 requires the Commissioner to produce an annual report, which includes information about the application of the Act on “persons who have protected characteristics”.
Clause 46 requires the SoS, 5 years after the passing of the Act, to publish a review of the Act within the following 12 months.
Amendment 2A
This amendment makes an explicit requirement to include information on about the application of the Act in relation to people from BAME communities.
Clause 45, page 32, line 20, after “characteristics” insert “, including persons representing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities,”
Amendment 2B
This amendment requires the review to examine the impact of the Act on people from BAME communities.
Clause 46, page 33, line 11, after “disabilities” insert— “and,
“(ii) persons from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities”
3 New Clause on Commissioner’s Consultation Boards
“Board to consult communities
(1) The Commissioner must, within six months of being appointed under this Act, appoint a consultation board.
(2) The role of the board is to consult communities in order to report to the Commissioner on the impact of the Act on those communities.
(3) The Board must report to the Commissioner and the Secretary of State every 12 months from its appointment on its findings. [Note: Timing could be changed]
(4) The communities that the Board must consult include—
(a) people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities
(b) [Can add further groups]”
(5) The Board may consult other groups in addition to those listed in subsection (4) as it considers appropriate.
(6) The Secretary of State must, within 3 months of receiving a report under subsection (3), lay that report before both Houses of Parliament.
4 New Clause on Civil Procedure rules/Probate
This New Clause would require the SoS to publish a report on the implications of the Act for the civil procedure rules and probate proceedings.
Amendment 3
“Implications for civil procedure rules and probate proceedings
(1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the passing of this Act, publish a report setting out the implications of this Act on—
(a) the civil procedure rules, and
(b) probate proceedings
(2) The report in subsection (1) must include an analysis of likely consequential changes to the civil procedure rules and probate proceedings in consequence of this Act.”
ECHR memo Amendment 4 This amendment does two things:
- Remove the automatic coming into force of the Act within 4 years of its passing.
- Require the SoS to make a statement of compatibility, or that they wish to proceed despite not being able to make such a statement, before they can bring provisions into force via SI.
Clause 54, page 36, line 21, leave out subsection (4) and insert—
(4) Regulations under this section cannot be made unless the Secretary of State has previously—
(a) made a statement to the effect that in their view the provisions of the Act are compatible with the Convention rights; or
(b) made a statement to the effect that although they are unable to make a statement under subsection (4)(a), the Government nevertheless wishes to proceed with commencing provisions of the Act.
(4A) The statement required by subsection (4) must be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
(4B) A statement under subsection (4)(b) must include the steps the Government plans to take to resolve any incompatibility.
The following clauses and amendments were voted on:
Amendment (b) to New Clause 14: This amendment would limit the exceptions that can be created to the advertising ban set out in New Clause 14 and also provides that regulations cannot amend the Suicide Act 1961, which includes the offence of assisting and encouraging suicide. Ayes 233, Noes 254
New Clause 1: No registered medical practitioner or other health professional shall raise the subject of the provision of assistance in accordance with this Act with a person unless that person has first raised it. I voted for the amendment, and it was defeated with the result: Ayes 230, Noes 256.
New Clause 2: No registered medical practitioner or other health professional shall raise the subject of the provision of assistance in accordance with this Act with a person under the age of 18 . I voted for the amendment, and it passed with the result: Ayes 259, Noes 216.
New Clause NC16: This new clause ensures that a wish to end one’s own life that is substantially motivated by the factors listed in the amendment does not qualify for the provision of assistance under this Act. I voted for the amendment, and it was defeated with the result: Ayes 208, Noes 261.
Amendment 24: This amendment would disapply the presumption that a person has capacity unless the opposite is established. I voted for the amendment, and it was defeated with the result: Ayes 213, Noes 266.
Amendment 12: This amendment would prevent section 1 of the National Health Service Act 2006, which sets out the purposes of the NHS, from being amended by regulations. Its effect would be to require changes to be made by an Act of Parliament instead. I voted for the amendment, and it was defeated with the result: Ayes 223, Noes 269.
Amendment 77: This amendment provides for New Clause 13 (regulation of approved substances etc) and New Clause 14 (prohibition on advertising), and the general provisions of the Bill, to extend to each part of the United Kingdom; and for New Clause 10 (no obligation to provide assistance etc) and New Section 1 (protection from detriment) to extend to England and Wales and Scotland. I voted against the amendment, but it passed with the result: Ayes 275, Noes 209.
Amendment 94: This amendment provides that the Welsh Ministers have power to commence clauses 39(1) and (2) and New Clause 21(2) and (3), and that other provisions of the Bill come into force in accordance with subsections (1) to (4) of this clause. I voted against the amendment, but it passed with the result: Ayes 274, Noes 224.
The question was put that the Bill be read a third time, and passed by 23 votes with the result: Ayes 314, Noes 291. The Bill will now progress to the House of Lords for further debate and scrutiny.