Senedd will get final say on assisted dying law in Wales
Health secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government maintained a neutral position as he drew a distinction between enacting the UK end of life bill and its implementation.
He explained enactment is reserved to Westminster but providing voluntary assisted dying services in Wales is a discretionary power in the hands of the Welsh Government.
Giving evidence on July 16, Mr Miles suggested options for services outside of the NHS would be available in the private sector in Wales and England as in other parts of the world.
Pressed on whether ministers could refuse to implement elements, Wales' health secretary said: 'In devolved competence, yes, and even if the [Welsh] Government wanted to and the Senedd didn't want to approve it – the Senedd would have that ability as well.'
Mr Fox asked: 'On regulations – if they are not made by the Welsh Government and consequently approved by this Senedd, the NHS in Wales will not be able to provide assisted dying services – is that the case?'
'That is correct,' Mr Miles replied, later suggesting a decision on whether to provide services in the health service would be made after the next Senedd election in May 2026.
The Welsh Parliament rejected the principle of assisted dying in a historic vote last year, with Senedd members voting 26-19 against with nine abstaining.
The Senedd rejected a similar motion a decade earlier in December 2014.
But, this side of the election, politicians will get a vote on a legislative consent motion (LCM), the means by which the Senedd signifies consent for proposed UK laws in devolved areas.
While the Sewel convention states the UK Parliament would 'not normally' legislate on devolved matters without consent, it is not legally binding.
But Mr Miles suggested the vote would influence Welsh ministers' decision-making.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
29 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer rejects calls for Palestinian statehood as Trump flies to the UK
Some 221 MPs have signed a letter urging the British Government to recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN next week. The UK would follow in the footsteps of France if it did, though Mr Trump claimed French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement was 'not going to change anything' ahead of flying to the UK on Friday. The appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting. The UK will pull every lever we have to get food and lifesaving support to Palestinians, and we will evacuate children who need urgent medical assistance. This humanitarian catastrophe must end. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 25, 2025 Sarah Champion, a senior Labour MP who co-ordinated the cross-party letter, said recognition 'would send a powerful symbolic message that we support the rights of the Palestinian people'. While the PM said he was 'unequivocal' about wanting to see a Palestinian state, he insisted this needed to be part of a 'wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis'. The UK and its allies must work together to broker a peace, he added, likening the effort to the coalition of the willing to support Ukraine. Sir Keir is expected to meet Mr Trump on Monday, as the US president stays in Scotland ahead of a full state visit later this year. On Friday evening, amid mounting global anger over the starving population in Gaza, the Prime Minister also suggested the UK will play a role in dropping aid into Gaza by air. He welcomed that Israel said it would allow aid to be delivered by parachute to alleviate starvation in Gaza. The Prime Minister said the step had 'come far too late', but he insisted the UK will 'do everything we can to get aid in via this route'. Britain is already working alongside Jordan to get aid onto planes, the PM signalled, also adding that children from Gaza in need of specialist medical care will be evacuated to the UK for treatment. In a video statement released on Friday, Sir Keir made plain his desire for a ceasefire. He said: 'I know the British people are sickened by what is happening. The images of starvation and desperation are utterly horrifying. 'The denial of aid to children and babies is completely unjustifiable, just as the continued captivity of hostages is completely unjustifiable.' Meanwhile, in a statement released alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's Mr Macron, the Prime Minister urged Israel to stop restricting the flow of aid into Gaza. A call between the three leaders was expected on Friday, but has been postponed until the weekend. US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday, with Washington's special envoy Steve Witkoff accusing Hamas of a 'lack of desire to reach a ceasefire'. The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire, and aid supplies would be ramped up as negotiations on a lasting truce took place.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Farmers Union of Wales reacts to Sustainable Farming Scheme
Last week, the Welsh Government published the final version of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). This Scheme will be the primary mechanism through which farm businesses in Wales will be able to apply for farm support from 2026 onwards as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is phased out over the coming years. Since the initial Brexit and Our Land consultation in 2018, the FUW, its officials and staff have invested a remarkable amount of resources into lobbying, negotiating and challenging the Welsh Government in order to try and secure a workable Scheme for the future of our thriving, sustainable family farms and food production across Wales. We can assure FUW members and the wider agricultural community that we left no stone unturned over the past seven years in our ambition to secure a viable post-Brexit farm support framework. We therefore welcome key successes, including securing a total budget for the Universal Baseline Payment and BPS taper combined of £238 million, providing workable payment rates and much needed stability for the sector. This includes the provision of universal payments for common land rights holders. Our lobbying efforts have also retained and strengthened the application of capped and redistributive payments, a longstanding policy position for the FUW and one that maximises the amount of money going to typical Welsh family farms and rural communities. However, we accept that the Scheme is not perfect. The 10% habitat Scheme Rule will be a concern for many as will the Scheme-level ambition to plant 17,000 hectares of trees by 2030. The shorter BPS transition will also be a bitter pill, with the BPS payment now falling to 60% in 2026 and reducing by 20% per year thereafter. We have been consistent in our calls for the BPS transition to follow five equal reductions starting at 80% in 2026 as was initially proposed by the Welsh Government. This Scheme will be different to what we have historically considered as direct farm support or subsidies. I therefore urge all Welsh farmers to consider the Scheme requirements and payment rates in the context of your own businesses. Whether farmers decide to enter the SFS at any point in the future, or continue with the tapering BPS and operate without farm support thereafter, the FUW is here to support you and your businesses throughout the transition period and beyond.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why clinical research in Scotland needs urgent rescue
Scotland has long punched above its weight in this field. From pioneering bowel cancer screening programmes using the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), now central to early detection efforts worldwide, to the EAVE-II platform, which was instrumental in understanding vaccine effectiveness during COVID-19, our clinical academics have delivered innovations with national and global impact. Our universities have also played a foundational role in training generations of clinical researchers, including those who went on to become global leaders and Nobel laureates, illustrating the far-reaching potential of sustained investment in this workforce. And yet, the number of clinically trained researchers in Scotland is declining at an alarming rate. This is especially evident at the crucial mid-career level—senior lecturers and research-active consultants—where we've seen a 30% drop over the last decade. These are the future leaders of our health system: those who secure major grants, mentor junior doctors, and help bridge the gap between lab bench and hospital ward. While the NHS workforce as a whole has expanded, its research arm is shrinking—and fast. The reasons are well known. Scotland currently lacks a dedicated, additional, ring-fenced funding stream to support the training and development of clinical academics. Without structural backing, research becomes optional—an extra task squeezed between clinics and night shifts. And yet, despite these pressures, many young doctors remain determined to pursue research careers—not because the system supports them, but in spite of it. It is time we did better for them—and for the future of Scottish healthcare. There is now a clear opportunity to reverse this trend. The Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR), through a taskforce led by Professor Patrick Chinnery and endorsed by leading national research bodies, has laid out a detailed and practical roadmap. Among its recommendations: the creation of a national clinical academic career framework, expansion of joint NHS–university research posts, and the integration of research pathways into routine NHS workforce planning. These are achievable goals. What's needed now is political will and national leadership. Scotland must adapt and implement these reforms without delay. That means coordinated action from NHS Education Scotland, the Chief Scientist Office, universities, health boards, and government. We also need visible champions—those willing to mentor, invest in, and inspire the next generation of research-active clinicians. We now face a choice. Do we allow this research capacity to wither, or do we build on it to create a health system that is smarter, faster, and fairer? The answer should be clear. If Scotland wants to remain a global leader in healthcare innovation, we must support the people who make it possible. At the heart of these discussions must be the public and patients we serve—because their future depends on it. This letter was co-authored by: Professor David Argyle, Vice Principal and Head of College of Medicine and Veterinary, University of Edinburgh; Professor David Blackbourn, Head of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen; Professor Rory McCrimmon, Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Dundee; Professor Iain McInnes CBE, Vice Principal and Head of College, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow; and Professor Deborah Williamson, Dean of Medicine and Head of School, University of St Andrews.
