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Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 30 January 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

In relation to the noble Lord’s point about the imposition of subsection (6), the Bill currently says that the panel “must (subject to subsection (6)) hear from, and may question, the person to whom the referral relates”, so it has to question the person, though not necessarily in person. Subsection (6), which he referred to, says: “The duty … to hear from the person … does not apply if the panel is of the opinion that there are exceptional circumstances which justify not hearing from that person”. That was added during Committee, because a Member of the Committee described the circumstances of his own mother, I think. That is why it happened. But I will note what the noble Lord says. I do not think I will go for a presumption, but I hear what he says.

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