HC Deb 17 February 1955 vol 537 cc553-4
42. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to put the Government's proposals on the Report of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment before the House of Commons.

Major Lloyd-George

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the statement which I made on 10th February, to which I have at present nothing to add.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the recent debate not one word was said about the relevance of the Report to Scotland, and that his policy of complete negation is a shocking waste of time and public money spent on the Royal Commission which prepared the Report?

Major Lloyd-George

I would commend the hon. and learned Gentleman again to read what was said in the debate with reference to the recommendations in the Report. He will see that many of the recommendations would involve legislation. If he will look at my statement he will see that some recommendations are very controversial but many others which do not involve legislation were either going to be put into effect or had already been put into effect.

Mr. S. Silverman

Does that mean that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is now telling the House that the Government have rejected all the recommendations of the Royal Commission which either require legislation or are controversial?

Major Lloyd-George

No, Sir. I cannot now repeat my statement.