David Burton-Sampson

I will not, because I want other Members to be able to speak. I supported the Bill on Second Reading, to allow the debate to move forward and with the hope of satisfying my concerns—the main two being the definition of mental capacity and how it can be interpreted, and the safeguards in place to ensure that an individual is not coerced. I also wanted assurances that the Bill is strong enough to avoid the slippery-slope scenario that we have seen in other countries. After listening to the debate on Report and absorbing the vast amount of information I have received from Members and various lobbying organisations on both sides of the debate, and after meeting people on both sides, including my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley, I am satisfied that my concerns have been addressed. In my view, the Bill now has more controls than when we looked at it on Second Reading, not fewer. I also reject the suggestion that the Bill has not received sufficient scrutiny. The debate on assisted dying has been ongoing for many years. A significant amount of analysis, reports and information is available. The Bill has gone through hours of scrutiny in Committee and on Report, and it will, of course, go through the same in the other place. I have spent time looking at all the information, and I am sure other Members have, too. I believe in choice. Although at this stage in my life, I believe that assisted dying is not for me, there are many who feel otherwise. They should be able to make this deeply personal choice, just as they can make choices about so many other elements of their life, such as whether to follow a religion, marry, have children or get divorced. These are life choices, usually made by somebody of sound mind and with considerable thought. We should be able to make the same choices about our death. After much consideration, I am minded to support the Bill on Third Reading. I will listen to the rest of the debate, but I must say that if Third Reading is not agreed to, we cannot allow the debate to disappear for another decade. The country needs this option. My constituents tell me that we need to find an acceptable way to legislate as soon as is practicable.