§ 18. Mr. PENNYasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the publication in the Press of morbid details relating to prisoners under sentence of death in His Majesty's prisons, he will issue instructions that in the event of officials giving such information to the Press they will be liable to instant dismissal?
Mr. DAVIESAny such communication is strictly prohibited by Statutory Rule 115 (1), which lays down that any breach will render an officer liable to dismissal.
§ Mr. PENNYCan the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether or not any leakage occurred on a recent occasion, and will he try, so far as he can, to make representations to the Press to refrain from this sort of thing?
§ Mr. FOOTHas the attention of the hon. Gentleman been called to the publication of certain gruesome details relating to the execution of an unhappy man yesterday, and his last cry before execution; was that allowed by the authorities, and will it be stopped in the future?
§ Mr. BIRKETTHas the attention of the hon. Gentleman been drawn to the publication in serial form in a certain journal of some of these matters by the late public executioner; and is it not desirable in the public interest that this source of information should be stopped as well?
Mr. DAVIESIn reply to the last supplementary question, I can only say that I will convey that suggestion to my right hon. Friend. I think, however, that the House ought to understand that the Home Office cannot prevent ex-prisoners giving information to the Press. I should also add this one word: that the Home Office cannot prevent the imagination of journalists.
Mr. DAVIESI will inquire into the matter, but I believe on this occasion the Press were present officially.
§ Mr. PENNYMay I have an answer to my question in regard to prisoners being released? I do not think the hon. Gentleman will find that many prisoners under sentence of death released from prison; therefore they cannot give information.
§ Mr. LUMLEYIs it the usual practice of the Press to be present at executions?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not all this evidence that the time has arrived when there is a consensus of opinion in the House that capital punishment should be stopped? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]