It is a landmark decision that the House of Commons has voted to proceed this Bill to its further stages.

Given the enormous implications that will follow the Bill, I sincerely hope the Government will take it over so that both the House of Commons and House of Lords will have time to give this important Bill the scrutiny that it deserves.

The areas that I expect to be fully examined accompanied by an impact assessment are in relation to the NHS and the criminal justice system. The NHS is important because it will need to provide more doctors and nurses to ensure that eligible people are allowed to die with dignity and are not pressurised into doing so.

The criminal justice system is important because a High Court Judge will need to certify the two doctors have made the correct assessment.

I believe these hearings will be in public unless there are extenuating circumstances. The fact the doctors will have to certify that the person is of sound mind means that they may wish to appear at the hearing in person. There may will be disagreement amongst family members and there will have to be an appeal mechanism if the judge rejects the application. There are therefore resources implications on the NHS and criminal justice system.

The Bill will need to ensure that there are maximum safeguards for individuals and I am particularly keen to do everything possible that this does not become a slippery slope for general euthanasia for adults and children as for example in Canada and the Netherlands.

I will continue to raise the problem of funding hospices which is currently very variable, often relying on donations. Everyone deserves the best possible quality of care towards the end of their life, and more could be done in this area so I have raised a written question on hospice funding, and I will continue to pursue this matter in Parliament.