Parliament has returned this week after what is always a busy summer recess. I spent much of the summer recess in and around Rugby, meeting with residents and businesses and looking forward to the Rugby World Cup, which is now just a few days from beginning. I hope that many of you are looking forward to it and I hope that the town will make the most of the celebrations.
The issue that has dominated discussion for the past week is of course that of the refugee crisis and no one can fail to be moved by the shocking images we have seen. That is why it was right that the Prime Minister, as one of the first acts of Parliament reconvening, addressed Members of Parliament and clearly set out what the UK Government will do to aid those who need it.
Britain can be proud of the role which we are playing in providing aid and support to the refugee camps bordering Syria. I welcome that the Prime Minister has announced that Britain will also seek to grant asylum to 20,000 refugees from the region in addition to the 5,000 we have already taken since the Syrian crisis began. I know that Britain will continue to be at the forefront of the humanitarian response to these events.
It is traditional on Fridays in Parliament to discuss and vote on Private Members Bills. These are Bills bought before the House by an individual MP, often on an issue of particular interest to them. This Friday, a Bill proposing the legalisation of Assisted Suicide will be debated by MPs. I have had many constituents, on both sides of the argument, contact me to urge me to vote on this matter.
I know that this is a highly emotive issue and one which evokes the highest degree of compassion and emotion. Having considered the issues and the Bill before the House carefully, I feel that Britain, which leads the world in palliative care, must show compassion by extending and developing this further. We should not be letting people die when they most need encouragement and assistance to live. Our loved ones need assistance to live, not assistance to die and deserve equal protection under the criminal law. I will therefore not be supporting the Private Members Bill on this matter.