MPs and campaigners have raised concerns at the government’s impact assessment of the assisted suicide Bill, which predicts cost savings for the NHS and other expenditure such as state pensions if the controversial legislation is passed.

The report says the NHS could save £60 million over a decade, though it admitted the financial implications remained subject to multiple unknowns, with even the permissible methods of killing currently unspecified.

The lengthy documents were released at 4pm on Friday, leading to accusations that ministers hoped to “bury bad news” on the eve of a bank holiday weekend as the headlines were dominated by local election results.