§ MR. SALT (Stafford)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will approve the appointment of a Committee, either Parliamentary or Departmental, to consider the practicability if sufficient evidence has not already been furnished) of an arrangement for the lapse, in all cases of capital punishment, of an interval of not less than seven clays between the final announcement to the condemned man that the law must take its course and the day of execution?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)No, Sir; I am not prepared to recommend the appointment of such a Committee, as I am afraid the suggestion of my hon. Friend is impracticable. The Secretary of State could not refuse to receive representations in the convict's behalf up to the very last moment; and it would, therefore, he impossible to make any hard and fast rule as to what time should elapse between the final decision and the execution.