24. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any statutory obligation which requires particulars of the infliction of the death penalty to be exhibited before and after its occurrence on the gates of Pentonville Prison; and, if not, will he, in the interests of the school children and young people who pass these gates, take some other means of notifying to the public these occurrences?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Bridgeman)The Capital Punishment Amendment Act, 1868, requires certain documents relating to the execution of a death sentence to be posted for at least 24 hours on or near the principal entrance to the prison, and provides for regulations to make known without the prison walls that such execution is taking place.
Mr. THOMSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that what was right 50 years ago is necessarily right to-day; and will he consider the desirability of introducing amending legislation so that this practice may be varied?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI will look into that matter.
§ Mr. THORNTONIs the practice of tolling the bell and hoisting the flag abandoned nowadays?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat does not arise out of the question