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Assisted Dying

My Lords, I strongly support the proposal for an independent inquiry. I totally disagree with the view that an independent inquiry is not a suitable vehicle for coming to moral decisions. A truly independent inquiry has time, its members can listen to one another’s arguments and, above all, when they come to their inquiry they will not be in an already entrenched position. We are not likely, in this House or the other place, to come to a consensus on this important issue. We are all too much entrenched as lawyers, priests, doctors or philosophers. An independent inquiry is exactly what is needed now, and it would not overshadow the results of the Select Committee chaired so ably by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay. I am very much in favour of this proposal.