Cross Party Group Meeting, 3 November 2010: 'The Palliative Care (Scotland) Bill'

The Palliative Care (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 1 June 2010 by Gil Paterson MSP. It seeks to place Scottish Ministers under a statutory duty to provide palliative care for those with life-limiting conditions and their family members, and to set up reporting arrangements so that provision could be monitored by Scottish Ministers and the Parliament. At the meeting, Gil Paterson MSP spoke about the Bill and led the ensuing Q and A session.

Regarding timescales for this Bill, the final oral evidence session will be heard the following Wednesday, 10 November 2010, whilst Parliament has agreed a deadline of Friday 10 December 2010 for the end of Stage 1 consideration of the Bill.

UPDATE: The bill was withdrawn by Gil Paterson MSP on 02 December 2010.

Explanatory notes

Policy Memorandum

Delegated Powers memorandum

End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill

All of the written and oral evidence for the Bill has now been collected and the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill Committee is currently considering its draft report. To comply with the Parliament’s deadline, the Committee has until 17/18 November 2010 to publish its report. The Committee has appointed a legal advisor to assist in its work.

The Stage 1 debate on the Bill will take place on or before 24 November 2010 - (End of Stage 1 process). It is not known at that stage when the debate will take place because Parliamentary business timetables are fitted into timeslots and announced only two weeks in advance (on Tuesdays).

UPDATE: The Stage 1 debate took place on 01 December 2010 - the Scottish Parliament disagreed to the general principles of the Bill and the Bill therefore fell.

Votes for = 16
Votes Against = 85
Abstentions = 2

The Parliament deadline for Stage 1 was 3 December 2010.

Explanatory notes

Policy memorandum

Meeting Papers

• Agenda - 3 November 2010
• Approved minute of XPG meeting - 3 November 2010