Speeches by Paul.

“That is not what it says.”

“I thank the Minister for that answer. Prison officers do an important job, and I thank every officer at Downview Prison in Banstead. It is extremely concerning that the number of assaults on staff at Downview more than doubled between 2023 and 2024. What steps is he taking to ensure that officers are protected in their…”

“17. What support she has provided to prisons that have received an urgent notification since July 2024.”

“I am concerned that maybe I am misunderstanding the debate. For clarity, right now clause 9 says that “in so far as the assessing doctor considers it appropriate,” they should “advise the person to consider discussing the request with their next of kin and other persons they are close to.” It will read very similarly i…”

“I thank the Minister for that clarity. Does he think it would be worth while setting that out in more detail, in order to protect doctors and make it really clear what would happen in such a situation? This would be an unprecedented, unique and very new process, and I can imagine substantial moral injury to doctors fro…”

“I thank the Minister for that explanation. What happens if the patient sets out in advance that they want no interventions? What if they have said, under the clause as the Minister laid out, “In the event of complications, if I am vomiting and in distress, I want no interventions”, but when that happens the pain and di…”

“I wish to clarify that the amendment is about not an additional assessment but merely a simple question. Like many who have spoken, I hope that most good doctors would ask the question anyway and take the answer. It may inform them or it may not but sometimes, as the hon. Member for Bradford West has just discussed so …”

“The right to say, “It’s none of your business” might be fine when no one else is involved, but if someone seeks an assisted death, that involves multiple members of NHS staff. There is an impact on all those people, who need to be comfortable with what they are doing. Maybe the person needs to accept that they do need …”

“I thank the hon. Member for his very good questions. I suggest that it be asked twice, because it makes a lot of sense to ensure that the patient is given the chance to really explain what is driving their decision. It is the simplest of questions, but it is amazing what can sometimes come out of the simplest question.…”

“I just point out that the amendment states that the independent doctor would “inform the person’s usual or treating doctor”, and that is not covered by the paragraph the hon. Gentleman just mentioned. I hope that is helpful.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. I rise to speak to my amendment 468 to clause 9, which would ensure that the assessing doctor must “ask the person why they are seeking an assisted death.” We have heard a lot in this Committee about the importance of the patient-doctor relationship. My hon.…”

“As long as I can make another speech, I am comfortable with stopping at this point and giving everyone a break from my voice. Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned.—(Bambos Charalambous.)”

“I am happy to give way to my hon. Friend.”

“I will come to that exact point shortly. Members of the Committee will recall that I previously tried to get “undue influence” and “encouragement” added to the Bill explicitly to deal with more subtle forms of influence and pressure, as opposed to those that are more obvious to third parties. When objecting to my amend…”

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak, Madam Deputy Speaker. I want to thank Surrey police for all they do to keep us safe in Reigate and Banstead. I welcome much of what is in the Bill and I will not repeat what has already been said. Instead, I will focus my remarks on what I believe is required to tackle …”

“I concur with everything my right hon. Friend says. It is completely accessible to all our children, so it is very hard for one child to be kept separate from it. That is why it is important that we address it. However, increasing the digital age of consent is just the first step—we have so much more to do. We also nee…”

“I am pleased to speak in support of the Bill. I must start by declaring an interest: I am a mother of three children who enjoy nothing more than staring at their screens day in, day out—if they could, they would be on them 24/7. No longer are our children clamouring to go out and play or to see their friends; instead, …”

“I thank the hon. Member for that point. There will absolutely be some occasions where that is the case, but assisted dying is a different pathway—and we have a whole Bill on it, so there will be other formalities and safeguards. We are all here to make sure that rigour is applied to that pathway. With the best will in …”

“Obviously, I am speaking to the Bill as is. I do not want to presume the result of any vote. I assume none of us here knows how a vote may go. All boxes checked, yet it is entirely possible that the margin of error could add up to the point where a doctor, when standing back and looking holistically at the situation, m…”

“That is a “may” rather than a “must”. I hope that we would move to “must” in that event.”