Government rejects anti-euthanasia amendments

Westminster, 8 November 2004 - The Society for the Protection of Unborn
Children (SPUC) is warning that a final vote in the House of Commons on
the pro-euthanasia Mental Capacity Bill may be announced at any time.
SPUC is calling on all those opposed to euthanasia to lobby MPs
urgently.

The Government continues to deny that the Bill will enshrine in law
euthanasia by neglect. Despite repeated attempts by anti-euthanasia
members of the Standing Committee, the Government has dismissed all
amendments aimed at excluding the practice of euthanasia from the Bill,
including those amendments supported by the Catholic bishops' conference
of England & Wales. SPUC has advised the All-Party Parliamentary
Pro-Life Group (APPPLG) regarding amendments to the Bill. SPUC will be
continuing to work with parliamentarians to promote amendments at Report
stage.

The Bill has now completed its Standing Committee stage, and the Bill
remains unamended in all but technicalities. The next opportunity for
amendments in the House of Commons will be a one-day Report stage
debate, to be held on the same day as the Bill's Third Reading, the
final vote in the House of Commons. The date for Report stage and Third
Reading is yet to be announced, though is likely in the next few weeks.

SPUC is calling on all those opposed to euthanasia to:

  1. lobby their own MP, urging him/her to vote against the Bill at 3rd Reading unless amendments are passed at Report stage to reverse the Bill's euthanasia nature
  2. lobby the Prime Minister to allow Labour MPs a free vote.

Details can be obtained from SPUC at www.spuc.org.uk or by emailing
political@spuc.org.uk or by telephoning 020 7222 5845.


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