Member

Overall, the debates have revealed the strength of the Bill and the considerable thought that has gone into these issues before the Bill reached this place and as it went through the other place. By way of example, and it is a key example, the key protections of five stages of safeguard that have to be gone through, including the two-doctor structure and the panel, is a structure that works and is well thought-out. It is perfectly legitimate to consider, as the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, suggested we do, whether the High Court is better than a panel. I do not think that it is, but this issue was fully debated in the Commons, and it is a point of principle that, if we had acted as we normally do, we would have resolved on Report by agreement or by a vote—but we never got there.