L

Lord Harper (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 20 March 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

This is the heart of the problem, which was highlighted brilliantly by the noble Lord, Lord Stevens. This issue touches on a reserved matter—the noble Lord is absolutely right that the proposed change to the criminal law is reserved—but delivering the services, if done through the health service, would not be a reserved matter. The Welsh Senedd debated the principle of the issue and decided that it did not want to have assisted suicide in Wales. When it was faced with the issue the other week in relation to the LCM, what it was being told, as I understand it, was that, if it did not consent to this Bill, and if Clause 42 were removed, it would not have the power to legislate on the delivery of the services. However, this Parliament would still proceed to change the criminal law in Wales, thus allowing people to assist other people to take their own lives, but without the Welsh Government or the Senedd having the ability to legislate for those healthcare services. That, I think, is the position and what it found unsatisfactory.

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