BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER: MY LORDS, IN INITIATING THIS DEBATE THROUGHOUT OUR REMAINING COLONIES HAS ANY INDICATION BEEN GIVEN OF THE DIRECTION IN WHICH HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE THE OUTCOME TO BE AND, IF SO, HAS IT BEEN CONSIDERED THAT THE DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN ABOLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS?
LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS: MY LORDS, YES, I THINK THAT MY NOBLE FRIEND HAS LARGELY INDICATED CERTAIN INDICATIONS OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT THINKING ON THIS MATTER. IT IS A FACT, AS SHE HAS POINTED OUT,
THAT THE CAPITAL PENALTY HAS BEEN ABOLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE 1965. IN FACT, IT WAS SUSPENDED AT THAT TIME AND FINALISED IN 1970. IT IS ALSO A FACT, AS MY NOBLE FRIEND HAS REMINDED US, THAT ONLY A FEW DEPENDENT TERRITORIES HAVE DECLINED TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THIS COUNTY IN ABOLISHING THIS PENALTY. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT PREMATURE, IF NOT TO SOME EXTENT IMPROPER, FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INDICATE TOC CLEARLY WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ON THIS MATTER BEFORE PARLIAMENT AND I REPEAT THAT PARLIAMENT IN THIS
COUNTRY INCLUDES BOTH HOUSES HAS DISCUSSED THIS MATTER AND
INDICATED ITS GENERAL VIEW AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VIEW OF THE POPULATION GENERALLY. IT IS, OF COURSE, IMPORTANT THAT BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT FINALLY INDICATE THEIR VIEW THEY SHOULD HAVE CONSULTED
PARLIAMENT EXTREMELY CLOSELY ON THE MATTER.
ENDS.
OWEN
. FILES
WIAD (5)
HK & GD
MR.MURRAY
2.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.