it's been drawn up by the liberal democrat msp, liam mcarthur, who says it would ease suffering.the bill is likely to be debated this autumn and potentially voted on next year. earlier i spoke to bbc scotland's political editor, david henderson, and asked him about the background of this legislation. it's come about because right now, helping someone to take their own life is a crime and it's punishable by up to ia years in prison. and campaigners say that is profoundly unjust, because it means that people suffer in the final phase of their life and they're unable to choose the way they die, when they die, where they die. so that's why today liam mcarthur, a liberal democrat msp, has has brought legislation to the scottish parliament to try to change the law. it would allow assisted dying on the nhs in certain limited circumstances. opponents, of course, warn that there are major problems with it. all sorts of concerns about what this means for people with disabilities and mental health. but supporters here say that the mood has changed, that there's broader public support for th

this is a bill in the - name of my friend and colleague lee macarthur, a liberal democrat msp, this is good reason we have human rights that protect every aspect of our lives, save one. that is our departure from it. i want to know that if i am terminally ill, either in tremendous pain or suffering, that i would have the chance to say this far and no further action leave this life on my own terms, end of my own suffering, and the suffering that that my state or condition is causing my family as well. but this is very narrow in scope, you name some countries with permissive assisted dying laws, this will only be available to people with a terminal diagnosis, it will only be available to adults and only available to people who have mental capacity, that is assessed by two independent clinicians who ascertain firstly that the condition is terminal and they are of sound mind and not being coerced into these decisions. there are many safeguards which liam has went very hard to garner from the best practice of other nations who have gone before us. ~ . other nations who have gone before us,

so that is why today is liam mcarthur liberal democrat msp has brought legislation to the scottish parliamentances. opponents of course warn that there are major problems with it, all sorts of concerns about what this means for people with disabilities and mental health. but supporters here say that the mood has changed, that there is a broader public support for this measure than there used to be and there is a majority support across scotland for a change in the law along these lines. so this bill has been brought to the scottish parliament, it will be discussed, it will be debated and finally it will be voted on by msps in the coming months. find finally it will be voted on by msps in the coming months.— in the coming months. and if this law is passed. — in the coming months. and if this law is passed, how— in the coming months. and if this law is passed, how will— in the coming months. and if this law is passed, how will it work? i law is passed, how will it work? well, there are all sorts of safeguards which are being introduced, but which are being proposed, fundamentally, what this allo

alex cole—hamilton is msp for the scottish liberal democrats who's been a supporter of this bill since is our departure from it. i want to know that if i am terminally ill, either in tremendous pain or suffering, that i would have the chance to say this far and no further and to leave this life on my own terms, and my own suffering and the suffering that my condition is causing my family as well. but this is very narrow in scope. you name some countries with very permissive assisted dying laws, this will only be available to people of a terminal diagnosis, two adults and two people who have mental capacity, that is assessed by two independent clinicians who ascertain firstly that their condition is terminal and secondly they are of sound mind and they are not being coerced into this decision. there are many safeguards that liam has worked very hard to garner from the best practice of other nations who have gone before us. ~ ., ., ., ., other nations who have gone before us. we will have more on that story a little later— us. we will have more on that story a little later here _ us. we

chairman of the scottish conservatives, and the msp for the south of scotland region, and was for many years a journalist and businessman. the liberal democrat fife, wendy chamberlain, is her party's chief whip and spokesperson for work and pensions. she was a police officer for many years and also worked in business in the private sector. patrick harvie is the co—leader of the scottish green party and has been the msp for glasgow region since 2003 — he is the minister for zero carbon buildings. before entering the scottish parliament, he worked in the area of sexual health. paisley faces lots of challenges and hurdles, so let's hear from our audience of locals. lesbian with you, sharon, a secondary school teacher. have a question to the panel. —— lets start with you, sharon. issues have come up with in teaching and i have come up with in teaching and i have come up with in teaching and i have come across them myself in class, basically a rise in violence in the classroom, children against each other but also for that is against the teachers. what we come across is we are seeing hunger in the classroom, children who are not eating. essential