Reeves refuses to say if she will have to make cuts so assisted dying is free to all

RACHEL Reeves has refused to say if she will have to make government cuts to help pay for assisted dying to be legalised in the UK.

- Martyn Brown

The Chancellor said she did not expect "higher costs on the public purse" from implementing the service for the terminally ill.

But she repeatedly dodged questions as to whether MPs should know if it will be free at the point of use before it is next debated.

History was made last month when they voted to allow the proposed law to progress to the next stage in Parliament. They backed it by 330 to 275, marking a major victory for the Daily Express's Give Us Our Last Rights crusade.

The Private Members' Bill by Labour's Kim Leadbeater now faces detailed scrutiny in committee stage - the next parliamentary step with MPs calling witnesses.

Meanwhile, civil servants are developing an impact assessment that will consider how many people are likely to take up the service, as well as the effect on the NHS and courts.