Thank you for contacting me about assisted dying and the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which had its Second Reading in the House of Commons on Friday November 29.

The Private Member’s Bill passed by 330-275 and will now be examined by a legislative committee before returning to the House of Commons for further votes next year. I was a teller counting the no votes and have been listed as opposing the legislation.

I have received hundreds of letters and emails expressing opinions on both sides of this debate. This has been a considered and respectful process where democratically-elected Members of Parliament were allowed to vote according to their conscience rather than party edict.

The legislation will now go through line by line scrutiny and I plan to follow this matter closely as it progresses through the Parliamentary legislative process and try to make amendments. However, I am hopeful that as a result of this legislation, there is a renewed focus on how we fund and deliver palliative care and that the Government recognises the need to improve the way people are cared for at the end of their life. I have written to the Health Minister to ask him to exempt our local hospices from the National Insurance Jobs Tax.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your views.