HC Deb 01 May 1930 vol 238 cc352-3
30. Mr. MILLS

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to submit a Bill to amend the existing law dealing with prisoners' evidence in cases of murder where no definite evidence exists?

Mr. CLYNES

No, Sir.

Mr. MILLS

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the comments in various legal journals on a recent case, and does he not think, in view of his experience, that he should secure some sort of protection for any successor in his office?

Mr. CLYNES

Yes, I gave the closest personal attention to that matter, but my view is that such points can safely be left to the Courts, and that we ought not to assume that because a man has been in prison or is in prison he is incapable of telling the truth.

Mr. HAYCOCK

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it is quite a fair, jannock and decent way of getting evidence which sent a man to the scaffold?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is not, a proper question to put.