E.R.
to the Cabinet (CP(56)43) proposing to make the following statement:-
"It would be wrong for the Secretary of State for Scotland and me to abrogate capital punishment by administrative action in anticipation of the amendment of the law or to fail to apply our minds to the circumstances of each particular case. In considering, as each case comes before us, whether to recommend the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, we shall continue to give full weight to all relevant considerations, including the views on the subject of capital punishment expressed in this House."
The Cabinet decided that the second sentence should be amended to follow
the terms of Mr Chuter Ede's statement, so that any special reference to the
views of the House of Commons would be omitted. The Home Secretary made the
agreed statement on 23 February 1956 and a statement in the same terms was
later made by Sir Frank Saskice on 23 December 1964, after the introduction
of Mr Silverman's Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill, for which
Government time was made available. The Bill became law in November 1965,
suspending capital punishment for murder for an initial period of five
years, but this was extended indefinitely by Parliament in December 1969.
4 The numbers of reprieves and executions between 1954 and 1965 were as
follows:-
1954 55
56 57 58 59
60
61
62
13
63
64 65
Reprieves
Executions
10
15
15
26 18
5
1
3
2
1
2
3
18
12
2
4
6
3
7
3
2
2
༔
These figures show that a reprieve was granted in every case considered
during the specific periods when amending legislation was before Parliament
but the reprieve was in no case automatic; in every instance a full
submission was made to the Home Secretary setting out the circumstances of
the offence and suggesting reasons for commuting the death sentence other
than the current Parliamentary discussion.
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
5
Capital punishment has been abolished in Guernsey but not in Jersey
or the Isle of Man. The main procedural difference between the exercise of
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