TNAG-0723-FCO40-921-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 21

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from MP's. In reply to the latest of these, on the advice of Mr Stephen, Mr Rowlands told Mr Geoffrey Edge MP on 27 October that it was very unlikely that there would be time in the coming session for a debate on this question.

5. A copy of the latest monthly return on outstanding capital cases in the Dependent Territories is attached. The Clayton Raynor case in Bermuda could well prove very difficult politi- cally but is still at a very early stage.

6.

I have discussed the proposed reply and notes for supple- mentaries with the Secretary of State's Political Adviser. He has undertaken to consult the Secretary of State on what reply should be given to a supplementary question designed to estab- lish when the Government intend to have a debate on the general question of capital punishment in dependent territories. In the meantime the notes for supplementaries suggest an answer on the lines of the reply given to Mr Edge (paragraph 4 above).

7.

WIAD and the Department's Legal Adviser concur.

14 November 1978

Mr Stephen

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Mr Duff, WIAD

Mr Rushford, Legal Advisers

R JT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

R.J. Shatton

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15 Nr.