A bid to introduce assisted dying for terminally ill Scots may be outside Holyrood’s powers, the Scottish Government has warned. It comes as the government also raised concerns that the costs of introducing assisted dying could be “substantially higher” than estimated. The concerns were revealed in a memorandum sent by Health Secretary Neil Gray to MSPs on Holyrood’s Health Committee.
It comes after Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur introduced a Bill at Holyrood that, if passed, would give terminally ill adults in Scotland the right to request help to end their life. MSPs on the Health Committee will consider the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, before it is voted on by Holyrood as a whole. READ MORE: Public 'split' on backing assisted dying in Scotland But a memorandum from the government, sent to the health committee was clear: “In the Scottish Government’s view, the Bill in its current form is outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
” A “particular concern” stems from the legislation giving powers to ministers to specify the drug that would be used for assisted deaths – with the Scottish Government stating this “appears to relate” to “medicines, medical supplies and poison” – an area where legislation is reserved to Westminster. While Westminster could grant a section 30 order – which would allow Holyrood to legislate in this area – the Scottish Government said this could take between 12 and .