HC Deb 07 November 1939 vol 353 c13
15. Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the waste of life involved in the application of the death penalty in previous wars, he will order its abolition in the present war?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Since the last war, the death penalty has been abolished for a number of offences including desertion, cowardice and sleeping when on sentry duty, and now remains, as a maximum punishment, only for murder, mutiny and offences of a treacherous character.

Mr. Thurtle

Is it not a fact that the abolition of this death penalty was one of the wise and humane things which the last Labour Government did?