My hon. Friend is dealing with two important cases, but does he agree that they illustrate that our intestacy provisions are defective, and that the Bill seeks to put that right? The intestacy rules are a default mechanism, designed to help people who did not make a will, by channelling...

My hon. Friend is dealing with two important cases, but does he agree that they illustrate that our intestacy provisions are defective, and that the Bill seeks to put that right? The intestacy rules are a default mechanism, designed to help people who did not make a will, by channelling...

As far as I can ascertain, having looked at the figures, the Bill will affect about 200 cases a year.

As far as I can ascertain, having looked at the figures, the Bill will affect about 200 cases a year.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second Time. It is an unexpected privilege to be here. I have signed the book for the ballot for private Members' Bills every year since 1983, apart from four years when, due to the electorate, I was elsewhere. It...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second Time. It is an unexpected privilege to be here. I have signed the book for the ballot for private Members' Bills every year since 1983, apart from four years when, due to the electorate, I was elsewhere. It...

Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Perhaps you could reflect again on the point just made and perhaps we could have a joint statement, also including the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson), who also disappeared—

Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Perhaps you could reflect again on the point just made and perhaps we could have a joint statement, also including the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson), who also disappeared—

I shall be brief because I sense that the House now wants to hear from the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson). I thank my ally, the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith), and I am grateful for his support and the work that his...

I shall be brief because I sense that the House now wants to hear from the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson). I thank my ally, the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith), and I am grateful for his support and the work that his...

Will my hon. Friend confirm that there was no suggestion as all in the case Re DWS that the grandchild had in any way aided and abetted the murder? He was an innocent potential beneficiary who lost out. Indeed, I believe that at the time of the murders the grandchild...

Will my hon. Friend confirm that there was no suggestion as all in the case Re DWS that the grandchild had in any way aided and abetted the murder? He was an innocent potential beneficiary who lost out. Indeed, I believe that at the time of the murders the grandchild...

I am doing that for the simple reason that I have confidence and trust in the coalition Government and I saw no reason to seek to override them on so footling a matter. If the Minister tells the House that he supports the Bill—which I hope he will in a...

I am doing that for the simple reason that I have confidence and trust in the coalition Government and I saw no reason to seek to override them on so footling a matter. If the Minister tells the House that he supports the Bill—which I hope he will in a...

I think so, because the court has power to determine who manages an estate, and I would have thought that that power was sufficient. If the court felt that the estate was being manipulated by an incarcerated prisoner—the father who had murdered the grandparent—I would have thought that the courts...

I think so, because the court has power to determine who manages an estate, and I would have thought that that power was sufficient. If the court felt that the estate was being manipulated by an incarcerated prisoner—the father who had murdered the grandparent—I would have thought that the courts...

In case the hon. Gentleman has not appreciated the fact—although, knowing him, I am sure he has—may I place it on record that when the House debated his Bill, I was one of his supporters? I hope that today he is feeling generous enough to return the compliment.

In case the hon. Gentleman has not appreciated the fact—although, knowing him, I am sure he has—may I place it on record that when the House debated his Bill, I was one of his supporters? I hope that today he is feeling generous enough to return the compliment.

My hon. Friend, like me, is a lawyer, so I hesitate to suggest this to him, but is not the answer to that question that any good will has a default position? If a testator gives to a son a share of the estate, which might be a 100% share,...

My hon. Friend, like me, is a lawyer, so I hesitate to suggest this to him, but is not the answer to that question that any good will has a default position? If a testator gives to a son a share of the estate, which might be a 100% share,...

If I may respond to that en passant, as it were, I accept that argument. The Procedure Committee has not yet considered this, but an argument can be made that we could consider bringing in a process whereby when a private Member's Bill has had three hours of debate the...

If I may respond to that en passant, as it were, I accept that argument. The Procedure Committee has not yet considered this, but an argument can be made that we could consider bringing in a process whereby when a private Member's Bill has had three hours of debate the...

My Bill is not precisely the same as the Bill proposed by the Law Commission; I have made a number of changes to it. I stand by what I just told the House. I am sure the Minister will deal with this point in further detail if it is felt...

My Bill is not precisely the same as the Bill proposed by the Law Commission; I have made a number of changes to it. I stand by what I just told the House. I am sure the Minister will deal with this point in further detail if it is felt...

It could be a consequence, but it is not the prime reason behind the Bill. When the Law Commission looked at the laws of succession, it highlighted the anomalous situation involving the children of a deceased minor. That is also covered by my Bill, which addresses the irregular situation in...

It could be a consequence, but it is not the prime reason behind the Bill. When the Law Commission looked at the laws of succession, it highlighted the anomalous situation involving the children of a deceased minor. That is also covered by my Bill, which addresses the irregular situation in...

I accept that point absolutely and completely. The effect of the law does not produce the outcome that the intestate person in most cases would have wished anyway, and my Bill seeks to correct that anomaly. There are a number of ways in which the state can and should seek...

I accept that point absolutely and completely. The effect of the law does not produce the outcome that the intestate person in most cases would have wished anyway, and my Bill seeks to correct that anomaly. There are a number of ways in which the state can and should seek...

B would be able to do that, although our law clearly states that one cannot refuse part of an inheritance—it is all or nothing. Once the decision is made, one cannot change one's mind, unless others have not acted on one's initial decision, in which case one can. The son...

B would be able to do that, although our law clearly states that one cannot refuse part of an inheritance—it is all or nothing. Once the decision is made, one cannot change one's mind, unless others have not acted on one's initial decision, in which case one can. The son...

Under our existing law, there are various reasons why people may disclaim an inheritance, and reducing one's tax liability is already one of them. For example, someone might decide not to accept an inheritance, where it involved taking on a property that was subject to a long lease that included...

Under our existing law, there are various reasons why people may disclaim an inheritance, and reducing one's tax liability is already one of them. For example, someone might decide not to accept an inheritance, where it involved taking on a property that was subject to a long lease that included...

Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill. Second reading debate agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill. Second reading debate agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Public Bill Committee.

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of suspected assisted suicide have been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these cases proceeded to court.

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of suspected assisted suicide have been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these cases proceeded to court.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the appropriateness of the assisted suicide policy published by the Director of Public Prosecutions in February.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the appropriateness of the assisted suicide policy published by the Director of Public Prosecutions in February.