§ 57. Mrs. WINTRINGHAMasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that when an execution takes place in Pentonville prison, which is in the vicinity of a 1568 London County Council school, notices are posted upon the gates of the prison both before and after the execution, and that children on their way to school wait about hearing the subject of the notices discussed by adults; and whether, to obviate this undesirable state of things, he will consider some other method of notifying the public that a death penalty is about to be imposed, and subsequently that it has been paid?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe matter has been frequently considered and I do not see my way to modifying the existing Regulations on the subject.
Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONIs the difficulty one of law or of administration In the latter case cannot the right hon. Gentleman establish a more humane method?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe thing has been considered more than once and it is very difficult to alter the Regulations. Obviously this is a matter which would become known to the public through the Press, apart from any other notice.
Mr. THOMSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise that it is not merely notification in the Press, but that children in the vicinity of that place have the matter brought to their notice, which is not desirable?
§ Dr. CHAPPLEIs the Home Office under no legal obligation to post the notice?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am not quite sure, but I will ascertain.