15/3/18
186
CONFIDENTIAL
Minister of sare
Aton
Mr Stratton
Mr Stephen
PS/Lord Gorony
PS/ Mr Rowlands
Yours I think.
5/3
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT OVERSTAS TERRITORIES
see (181
Flag A IST
1.
Flag B 175
Flag C
188
In his letter of 8 February to Mr Arthur Latham MP, Mr Luard
referred to the Government's wish to consult Parliament before
formulating their policy on capital punishment in the Dependent
Overseas Territories. Mr Latham has now written to ask when the
House will consider the matter.
2. For reasons which were briefly described in my minute of 1 March to PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts and others, Cabinet decided
not to pursue the question at this time. That decision was taken for political reasons and I suggest that the position should not
be set out in a letter. The Secretary of State has an appointment
with the International Committee of the Labour Party on 14 March
and it is almost certain that the question of capital punishment
will be raised then. I recommend that that occasion would be a
suitable time for the Secretary of State to explain the position
in confidence to MPs. What the Secretary of State tells the Committee will soon be widely known to MPS. I attach a non-
committal draft letter to Mr Latham.
13 March 1978-
CC:
PS
HKC. 386/1
RECEIVI
PS/Mr Judd
PS/Mr Rowlands
PS/Mr Luard
QY NO. 51
2 C MAR 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
No
"GISTIC baction Tuken
Lu
1.0.3. St.
B. Di
JAB Stewart
Hong Kong & General Dept
K.v. Gratton
Committer when they met the Sops today - only Cypons
PS/PUS
14MM.
Sir A Duff
Mr Cortazzi
In
question
was not rinsed by
the
International
Сурто
T
fond farinly
provided a soon for
discussed. But the letter is still adequate
suitable occasion is CONFIDENTIAL
the soft to explain the position to MPs
Dundṣugh. 14/3