TNAG-0723-FCO40-921-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 53

Mr Stratton

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

CONFIDENTIAL

:

REC

нка 38611

30 OCT 1978

DESK OPALLY

INDEX

No

PA

3.51

REGISTRY

Action Taken

1/27/11 BX

Flag A

Flag B

Flag C 279

Flag D

28

Flag E

282

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: BERMUDA

1. In his minute of 27 October covering a draft reply to a Parliamentary Question on Bermuda Mr Duff said that the Secretary of State was considering the question of a debate on capital punishment in the dependent territories.

2. The position is as follows. Mr Geoffrey Edge MP (Labour Aldridge Brownhills) recently wrote to Mr Rowlands to ask whether the Government envisaged a debate on capital punishment in the dependent territories during the coming Session of Parliament. On the basis of a comment by the Secretary of State on a letter from the International Secretary of the Labour Party, the Depart- ment recommended a reply to the effect that the Government would consider introducing a change of policy when they had a clear majority in the House of Commons. Mr Rowlands' Private Secretary sought guidance on whether this argument could be used in replying to Mr Edge (his minute of 17 October). The Secretary of State's Political Adviser suggested that Mr Rowlands might say that he considered it highly unlikely that time could be found for a debate on capital punishment in the dependent territories. Rowlands replied accordingly on 27 October.

3. I submit a revised note for a supplementary question on this issue.

Mr

RJT McLaren

287

30 October 1978

Hong Kong and General Department

cc:

Mir Stephen

Mr Cortazzi

Mir Duff, WIAD

CONFIDENTIAL