The members of the committee who will consider the assisted dying bill has a majority of those who voted in favour of the changes.
MPs voted at the end of November to progress the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the next stage in parliament.
By passing its second reading, it gave parliamentarians more time to scrutinise the bill and suggest amendments, as happens at committee stage.
In total, 21 backbench MPs are on the committee – 12 who voted for it and nine who voted against it.
There are also two ministers – care minister Stephen Kinnock and justice minister Sarah Sackman – who will represent both their departments and the government as a whole. Both voted in favour of the bill.
One leading opponent of the bill criticised the committee’s makeup – saying all the “no” voters except for two are newly elected MPs, and only one got to speak in the Commons debate.
The bill was proposed by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, rather than from the government as law changes normally are.
However, in order for such a bill to progress, the government has to provide the time for MPs to debate and vote on it, as has happened in this case.
MPs were given a “free” – or “conscience” – vote, meaning they were not told by their party how to cast their ballot.
It also means ministers can vote however they want, and there are two ministers present on the committee.
The second reading vote saw the bill pass by 330 to 275.
The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional opinions on both sides.
Read more on assisted dying:
Beth Rigby: Vote evoked my mother’s end of life
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What does the bill propose
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Public bill committee process
All bills, after being provisionally voted on by MPs, go to a committee to consider the legislation.
These committees are usually made up of 17 MPs, and have to be representative of the makeup of the Commons.
They have the power to call witnesses and request evidence, and members of the public and groups are also able to get in contact with them.
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This takes place in much the same way as a select committee.
As well as this power, the MPs on the committee will also vote on whether to amend the bill.
Amendments can be submitted by all members of the House of Commons – not just those on the committee – at this point, but it is up to the MPs on the committee to decide on which to pass.
Once this process is complete, the bill in its amended form will return to the whole House of Commons to be voted on in the next stage.
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Ms Leadbeater said: “The bill committee will bring together colleagues with differing views and valuable experience in order to give the bill the detailed scrutiny it deserves and requires.”
She added: “As I promised in my speech, the committee reflects the range of views expressed in the debate as well as the makeup of the House itself.
“While the government remains neutral, I am very pleased that two ministers will also be on the committee, reflecting the level of engagement and commitment that such an important piece of legislation demands.
“The committee must now meet to agree the timetable for its work, which will begin in January, but I am confident the bill will receive detailed scrutiny to ensure that both Houses of Parliament are presented with legislation for further consideration that is workable and rigorous in terms of the rights it confers and the safeguards and protections it affords.
“Finally I want to thank all members of the committee for their commitment to engage constructively with the bill during what will inevitably be a demanding and time-consuming process.”
