I lodged amendment 118 on behalf of Hospice UK. The amendment would ensure that the five-year review of the assisted dying legislation considers the effectiveness of the code of practice, which is set out in section 22B of the bill. Members will know that the aim of the code of practice is to ensure that palliative and end-of-life care services are supported if assisted dying is legalised, and that any negative impacts are mitigated and managed. Amendment 118, if members support it, would ensure that, when the implementation of assisted dying legislation is reviewed, the impact on palliative and end-of-life care services is considered, including, for example, whether any changes to staff training for those working in palliative care are needed, or whether additional guidance should be provided to hospices.

Amendment 118 is similar to an amendment that I lodged at stage 2, but it takes a narrower approach that is tied more specifically to the code of practice, which now forms part of the bill. There are many potential ways to review the effectiveness of the code of practice as part of that five-year review. For example, hospices or palliative care providers could be consulted on how well the code of practice has supported them. Unfortunately, the Scottish Government’s commentary on the amendment does not acknowledge that narrower approach, although I hope that the cabinet secretary will do so in his remarks. The Scottish Government’s commentary repeated comments that were made at stage 2 about data being required from Public Health Scotland. I point out as gently as possible that the key outcome of the Scottish Government’s palliative care strategy is to improve data collection and that amendment 18 would fit neatly with that approach.