HC Deb 25 June 1934 vol 291 cc768-9
2. Mr. BERNAYS

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position now to state what steps have been taken by the Provincial Governments in India to ensure that there is no repetition of the incident last December at Lahore, when a man was executed before a letter ordering the postponement of the execution had been opened?

Sir S. HOARE

Instructions have been issued by the Provincial Governments that communications relating to prisoners under sentence of death shall be plainly marked to indicate their nature and urgency; and certain officers have been designated as responsible for seeing that orders for postponement of executions are issued promptly, and that acknowledgments are received immediately from jail superintendents to all such communications.

Mr. BERNAYS

Is my right hon. Friend now satisfied that all possible precautions are being taken?

Sir S. HOARE

Yes, Sir, I think that is the case. Anyhow, I shall watch the position very carefully.