Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 13 March 2026 [Draft]
13 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I am just about to close, so I will not take the intervention, if Mr Harvie will forgive me.
I want suicide prevention to be absolutely central to what we are doing here, so I would like to see it addressed in the bill.
I will speak briefly to the other amendments in the group. My colleague Stephen Kerr’s amendment 248 covers similar territory, but goes further than my amendment, in that it seeks to create offences. I am happy to support it if my amendment does not succeed. Liam McArthur’s amendments 52 and 71 would create new offences and penalties and would provide for those to be made in regulations. I would be happy to support them if my amendment does not succeed.
I move amendment 247.
In the same item of business
09:41
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Our next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members sho...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Group 16 is on the offence of advertising and the dissemination of information. Amendment 247, in the name of Murdo Fraser, is grouped with amendments 248, 5...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Before I talk about amendment 247, I draw members’ attention, if they are not already aware of this, to the fact that the Royal College of Psychiatrists in S...
Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP)
SNP
I am finding the language that Murdo Fraser is using deeply offensive, and I say that as someone who will vote against the bill. He should, please, be carefu...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I gently say to Clare Haughey that the legal reality is that the bill would allow, for the first time in our history, individuals to help another individual ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Made a request to intervene.
Murdo Fraser
Con
I am just about to close, so I will not take the intervention, if Mr Harvie will forgive me.I want suicide prevention to be absolutely central to what we are...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Stephen Kerr to speak to amendment 248 and the other amendments in the group.
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I start by thanking Murdo Fraser for his powerful and sobering remarks.Group 16 addresses an issue that may seem procedural but, as Murdo Fraser has describe...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Is the member aware that people who are refused the choice to die with dignity often end up taking their own life anyway? There are multiple instances of that.
Stephen Kerr
Con
I think that Rona Mackay has made the case for my amendment. It is very important that, when people are presented with options, they are also given assurance...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Liam McArthur to speak to amendment 52 and other amendments in the group.
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I begin in customary fashion by reminding members of my entry in the register of members’ interests in relation to the support that I receive from three sepa...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
I begin with a statement that I put on the record when we were discussing last night’s last group: I absolutely appreciate the sensitivities of the subject. ...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
We should recognise the fact that the United Nations has said that our suicide prevention strategy is world leading. I hope that members will not try to conf...
Neil Gray
SNP
I note the points that Mr Stewart made. I understand the sensitivities and the very strong views that there are on the matter. I rest on the points that I op...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Murdo Fraser to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 247.
Murdo Fraser
Con
: I will respond very briefly.I appreciate that there are members who find it uncomfortable to talk about suicide in the context of this bill, but that is th...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
This is an extremely sensitive subject for everyone. For Mr Fraser to use some of the language that he has used and to conflate two very different things is ...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I say very gently to Mr Adam that that intervention is not worthy of him. We are dealing with a legal reality and a groundbreaking change in the law that wil...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment 247 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division.As this is the first division of today’s stage 3 proceedings, I suspend the meeting for around five minutes to allow members to acce...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We come to the division on amendment 247. Members should cast their votes now.
ForAllan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)Boy...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division is: For 40, Against 74, Abstentions 4.Amendment 247 disagreed to.Amendment 248 moved—Stephen Kerr.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment 248 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division.
ForAllan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)Boy...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division is: For 39, Against 75, Abstentions 5.Amendment 248 disagreed to.Amendment 52 moved—Liam McArthur—and agreed to.Section 22—Limitat...