Clause 9 - Lasting powers of attorney
Mental Capacity Bill
9:30 am
Mr Paul Burstow (Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Health; Sutton and Cheam, Liberal Democrat)
Perhaps I can comment on the point of order in the context of this debate. It is to the Government's credit that they subjected the Bill to a scrutiny progress that allowed some interaction to take place at an early stage of the consideration of the Bill by the House, in so far as the BMA, organisations such as the General Medical Council and parties such as the
Catholic bishops and others, discussed how the best interests test would apply. The purpose of this group of amendments is to explore further the interaction between clause 9, which deals with lasting powers of attorney, and clauses 1 to 4, which deal with best interests and the principles of the Bill.
On a point of order, Mr. Hurst, can you arrange for someone to adjust the lights because I feel as though I am under a spotlight?