§ Lord Denhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they intend to make to the Law Commission Report on Mental Incapacity (Law Corn. No. 231).
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)The Government have considered the Law Commission Report on Mental Incapacity very carefully and are grateful to the many individuals and organisations who have sent in their views on this subject. The Government appreciate that this is an important and sensitive subject,44WA raising moral and ethical issues on which many people will have strong personal views.
The Government have decided not to legislate on the basis of the Law Commission's proposals in their current form and have also concluded that it would be inappropriate to make any proposals to Parliament in the absence of full public consultation. The Government propose to issue a consultation paper on mental incapacity in due course.
The Government wish to emphasise that they fully support the view of the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics that euthanasia is unacceptable and have no plans to change this policy. The Government's consultation will thus not include any proposals on this subject.