Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Lab)

We are debating other people’s amendments at the moment. This debate has ranged pretty far and wide. These are not my amendments; they raise three particular issues. First, should there be a new organisation, an assisted dying help service? Secondly, should we ensure a different and more expeditious series of arrangements than that put in my Bill? Thirdly, should the commissioner act only as a regulator? Those are the three essential parts. I think there is merit in much of what the noble Lord, Lord Birt, has said, but I am not in favour of an assisted dying help service. Further, my Bill sets out very detailed provisions for safeguards that are longer and less flexible than those proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Birt. As for the commissioner being solely a regulator, I am not in favour of that. I think we need a regulator and the CQC has been suggested in relation to that. That seems quite sensible. I simply say that we have ranged so far and wide that I am slightly miffed at the idea expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Empey, that I am detaining people from their lunch because we have had this long debate.