Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Lab)

I was pretty clear in my remarks that I favoured the panel process. When I say that it has been laid to rest, I accept that the House may take a different view from me, which I would completely respect. To deal with that, obviously there would be a vote on Report when we would decide whether we wanted the panel or the court process. I hope the issue has been laid to rest, but if it has not and I lose, so be it. I earnestly hope that we get there and reach a decision in relation to it. The noble Lord, Lord Moylan, would like to replace the word “principal” with the word “sole”. I make two points in relation to that. First, all the assisted dying commissioner can do is that which is prescribed in the Bill, because he or she is a creature of statute. Therefore, there is nothing more that he or she can do beyond that. The word “principal” is used, not “sole”, because we do not want to get into a completely barren argument subsequently about whether something that the commissioner does as collateral to the principal functions is covered. That is why “principal” is used and why I would not be in favour of changing the wording of the Bill in relation to that.