Members of Parliament from across the parties of the House of the Commons gathered in Westminster Hall to debate an e-petition on assisted dying.
The debate was brought forward following a petition calling on the House to hold a vote on the future of assisted dying received over 200,000 signatures, including 522 from Winchester and Chandler's Ford.
Steve Brine MP spoke in his role as Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee referring back to the committee's substantial report released in February.
The report includes roundtables with people who have lived experience; which hosted health and care workers from across the NHS and social care, including people who on a daily basis provide care to people at the end of their lives.
Committee members attended a number of visits, including to the US state of Oregon, where assisted dying has been legal for over 20 years, and to the Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham.
Nearly 68,000 responses were sent in via online form, which is the largest number of responses of that type to any engagement from a House of Commons Committee. Steve chaired five evidence sessions with witnesses from across the world and received close to 500 written evidence submissions.
Mr Brine said: "As we set out to conduct the inquiry, we were very clear that we did not want to weigh in on whether assisted dying should be legalised or whether the law should remain unchanged.
That seems to have disappointed just about everybody, which tells me that we got things just about right and, more importantly, in line with the terms of reference that we published at the very start. All that has produced a weighty reference for MPs and peers to draw from in the future."
Steve shared his aspiration for Parliament to have a broad and well researched basis for further consideration, whether sooner or later.
The Government responded to the report the morning before the debate, making it clear that they will not bring forward legislation in this area and that it was more possible that a change in law would be sought through a private Member’s Bill.
Members continued the debate for over an hour and half, which was concluded by the Minister's response.
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