Coroners and Justice Bill

My Lords, I have some sympathy with the noble Lord, but perhaps I might just make these remarks. Having had a full debate in Committee, I imagine that the House will prefer to be spared a surfeit of impassioned pleas at this stage in the Bill’s passage and at this hour. At the end of the debate on the amendment of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, the Minister suggested that an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill was not the best way of dealing with the matter, and that the best way of pursuing it further would be through a Private Member’s Bill. The noble Lord may feel that that would be the best way of pursuing his amendment also; indeed, from the way that he moved it today, it seems that that may well be so. We will shortly have the guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the noble Lord may feel that it would be best to wait to see what effect that has before further stirring this particular pot. At the same time, given the obvious concern that exists about this issue across the House, it might assist our further consideration of these matters if the Government initiated a partial inquiry into the whole question of helping another person to die. This would be in keeping with the noble Lord’s desire that the issue should be approached in the round, not simply in an antagonistic fashion. The Minister said, in response to a Question from the noble Lord, Lord Warner, in this House on 20 October, that he would take away the suggestion of a partial inquiry. I strongly support the noble Lord’s request and very much hope that the Government can be induced to respond positively to it.