On Tuesday the House will debate Lord Falconer’s amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill that would allow a friend or relative to accompany a person who travels to a clinic where there is assisted dying. Like many Peers I have received letters and emails about this.
I shall vote for the amendment. Assisted dying for terminally ill people is allowed in a number of countries and currently the law in Britain is unclear about the legality of travelling with a person to such a clinic. The 1961 Suicide Act criminalises anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures someone else’s suicide. Although this hasn’t led to any prosecutions I think we need to make it clear that no offence can be committed by accompanying a person to such clinics. People caught up in such tragic situations do not need the threat of a prosecution hanging over them.
When a new Speaker is elected by the Commons, the approbation of the monarch is required. Rather than attend in person, the monarch conveys that approbation through a royal commission. MPs are summoned to the bar of the House of Lords and the commission – comprising the Lord Chancellor and the leaders of the parties (and the convenor of the cross-benchers) in the Lords - delivers the Queen’s confirmation.
In this week’s quiz, I asked respondents to identify three women peers presently in the House who have served as Cabinet ministers in the House of Commons. Seven readers – Michael, stephenpaterson, Croft, Len, Jonathan, AJackson and Steph – responded, each correctly identifying three women peers (such as Baronesses Bottomley, Thatcher and Williams of Crosby) who have served as Cabinet ministers in the Commons. 
I have been struck by how many people comment on the weekly quiz question. It is a regular topic of conversation whenever the blog gets mentioned. Readers appear to enjoy reading it, attempting it (not necessarily by writing in), or finding out what the answers are. I know some like to attempt it without reading the comments, rather like those who attempt crosswords even though the solutions may be published in the same issue. 
