THE WELSH Parliament is set to hold a “historic” debate and vote on assisted dying.

Julie Morgan has tabled a motion calling on the Welsh Government to support the principle of assisted dying and Westminster proposals for a compassionate change in law.

The Labour Senedd member’s motion was co-submitted by the Conservatives’ James Evans as well as Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price and Heledd Fychan.

Ms Morgan’s debate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday October 23 at about 3.15pm.

The vote will be non-binding and Ms Morgan notes that responsibility for assisted dying is not devolved to Wales because it is a matter governed by criminal law.

But her motion says if assisted dying were legalised, the Welsh Government would require an in-depth understanding given its responsibility for health and social care.

Assisted dying typically refers to a terminally ill person receiving lethal drugs from a clinician to administer themselves but the motion extends this to people who are intolerably suffering.

Meanwhile, assisted suicide is the act of intentionally helping another person to end their life and euthanasia involves a physician administering a lethal drug to relieve suffering.

Ms Morgan proposes that the Senedd, “believes adults of sound mind who are intolerably suffering from an incurable, physical condition and have a clear and settled wish to die should have the option of an assisted death, subject to robust safeguards”.

The motion highlighted changing public attitudes towards assisted dying, with up to 88% of the public now favouring a change in the law.

It says more than one person a week from the UK chooses to end their life in Switzerland but many cannot afford the costs of end-of-life centres which can be more than £10,000.

Ms Morgan, a former minister, sought to clarify whether cabinet members, who typically abstain on member debates, will have a free vote as she quizzed Jane Hutt on October 15.

Ms Hutt, who is the chief whip and Trefnydd, a role similar to the leader of the house in Westminster, confirmed ministers will have a free vote as it is a matter of conscience.

She told the Senedd a bill on assisted dying is working its way through the House of Lords and a similar bill is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons today.

Trevor Moore, who is chair of My Death, My Decision, a grassroots campaign group, described next week’s Senedd debate as a historic moment.

He said: “We’ve been encouraging a debate in the Senedd for some years because we believe Welsh people should have their say on this important issue.

“It’s been a decade since it was last debated but this time we believe the vote will be very different.

“This debate will be about a law for people who are intolerably suffering from incurable conditions, not one limited to people who are terminally ill.

“It’s important that people who are suffering from conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and locked-in syndrome are not ignored.

“People who are suffering unbearably deserve choice, compassion and dignity.”

Speaking to the BBC, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby described assisted dying as “dangerous” and a “slippery slope” towards people feeling compelled to end their lives.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE woman behind Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm and Bug Farm Foods has disputed claims that insect protein ‘mince’ will soon be rolled out to school dinner menus in the county.

In a submitted question to be heard at the Pembrokeshire County Council meeting of October 17, member of the public Valerie Sutherland will ask: “At a recent Biodiversity Study Day, Dr Sarah Beynon of the St David’s Bug Farm said that VEXo – the ‘mince’ used in their spaghetti bolognese comprising insect protein and vegetables – will be rolled out to Pembrokeshire schools soon.

“Has a contract for this been signed for imminent rollout? If so, have the allergic reactions and inflammatory issues been taken fully into account as children with seafood allergies will be affected by the chitin in this product?”

In a related question, she will also ask: “Insects bred for human consumption carry parasites that are seriously harmful to humans. Are councillors aware of the potentially serious health implications of children effectively being forced to consume insect protein as outlined [in an accompanying study]?”

Pembrokeshire is well known for Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm, the vision of Dr Sarah Beynon, who wanted to combine her love of farming, academic research and education by setting up a centre of excellence in her hometown of St Davids, with VEXo produced by Bug Farm Foods.

Dr Beynon, responding to the published submitted question, disputed saying the ‘mince’ would be ‘rolled out’ to schools.

“I did not say this, as it is not true. I explained the exciting development of VEXo insect and plant protein mince with over 2,000 Pembrokeshire school children, teachers, social scientists, nutritionists, Welsh Government and Innovate UK, explaining that VEXO Bolognese was due to be offered on school menus in Pembrokeshire in 2020.

“Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic hit during the same week that we were due to finalise the roll-out with Pembrokeshire County Council. Schools were closed, so it did not go ahead. I mentioned that we are looking forward to revisiting this with Pembrokeshire County Council in the future, but did not put a timeframe on it.”

On pupils being ‘forced’ to consume the protein, Dr Beynon added: “We would never force anyone to eat anything they didn’t want to. Pupils are never forced to consume a food – during the previous discussions, it would be offered as a choice on the menu.

“Interestingly, 100 per cent of pupils liked VEXo Bolognese and one of the most wonderful outcomes of in-school workshops we ran was that children said it made them want to learn more about sustainability in schools. It also increased the take-up of school meals.”

On other issues raised by the questioner, she said: “As insects, like crustaceans, are arthropods, those allergic to crustaceans may also be allergic to insects. As with any other food, allergen labelling is vital, and all of our insect-based products are labelled appropriately and allergen information provided to groups who visit us in advance.”

She finished: “All plant, fungi and livestock foods have the potential to carry pests, parasites and pesticides that can be harmful to humans. The vital stage in eating them is how they are processed or cooked with industry-standard critical control points reached. Insects are no different. Insects farmed for human food are anaesthetized before being killed (frozen) and are cooked at high temperatures. Full microbiology testing is carried out.

“The fact that the resultant products have a stable ambient shelf life for around two years shows just how low-risk the food product is. Insects used in Bug Farm Foods’ food products are farmed in UK insect farms with the very highest biosecurity standards. Because the industry is relatively new to the UK and Europe, the legislation around farming them has been developed with modern understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare, meaning that it is some of the most up-to-date in the world.

“VEXo was specifically developed, here in Pembrokeshire, to tackle issues related to childhood obesity and nutrition gaps in growing young people. It contains about 80 per cent less saturated fat than a conventional meat-based Bolognese and is high in iodine, which is often low in teenage girls’ diets. Insects contain highly digestible protein, contain all essential amino acids, heme iron and a really good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.”

The questions will be heard and responded to at the meeting.

THE SENEDD’S legislation committee criticised a “wholly unacceptable” delay of more than seven years in implementing reforms to tattooing and body piercing.

In 2017, the Welsh Government brought forward the now-Public Health Act which included a new licensing scheme for tattooing, acupuncture, electrolysis and body piercing.

In response to the legislation committee’s concerns about the delay, the Welsh Government said preparatory work on a licensing scheme got under way in autumn 2019.

Ministers first prioritised implementing reforms relating to intimate piercing of under 18s, which came into force in February 2018.

The other planned reforms were paused during the pandemic and work did not resume until summer 2022 with a consultation following in 2023.

Labour’s Alun Davies, a former minister who is now a member of the legislation committee, criticised the seven-year delay during a meeting on October 14.

He said: “I think seven years is wholly unacceptable and the response from [the] Welsh Government – I don’t find it in any way convincing.”

The mandatory scheme aims to provide greater consistency across Wales’ 22 councils, which will remain responsible for enforcement, with one central national public register.

All practitioners of the four special procedures will require a licence while all premises or vehicles where they are carried out will need an approval certificate.

An impact assessment warned: “The current registration scheme no longer adequately addresses the public health concerns and protects the public effectively.

“There have been examples of unregistered practitioners being prosecuted and having their equipment seized.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that, due to the rise of social media, there are likely to be a number of individuals who advertise their services online and operate outside the current registration scheme.”