§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what prison regulations govern the supply of alcoholic liquor to persons sentenced to death.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeHalf a pint of beer may be allowed a condemned prisoner at dinner and again at supper at the discretion of the prison medical officer.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonHow does the Home Secretary reconcile that with the evidence disclosed at an inquest last week? Will he also say whether hanging takes place whatever the degree of intoxication might be immediately before the hanging?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI do not think that I need enter into that, because no information of the sort has been available to me. It has been available to the Press, but not to me. The Royal Commission on Capital Punishment put on record its view that the discretion of the medical officer should be indulgently exercised.
§ Mr. RankinDo I understand from the Home Secretary's reply that no report about this matter was subsequently furnished to him?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeSo far as I can see there is no reason for any report of this sort. We must rely upon the medical officer, who is given full discretion in each case. There is no reason whatever for which it should be referred to me.