HC Deb 21 July 1955 vol 544 cc539-40
10. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been executed in Her Majesty's prisons since 1951; and how many have been reprieved after sentence of death.

Major Lloyd-George

So far as England and Wales are concerned, the answer to the first part of the Question is three, and to the second part, six.

Mr. Shinwell

Whilst, of course, attaching no blame to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman—we recognise the difficulty in which he is placed—is it not possible to consider some variation of the practice, so that instead of the Home Secretary exercising the prerogative, the responsibility would be put on a panel of persons qualified to judge?

Major Lloyd-George

That is a very big question to answer. The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that all these cases are decided on their merits, and I am sure that I need hardly remind him that enormous care is taken in each case. It is not a question which I can properly answer across the Floor.

11. Mr. V. Yates

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women, respectively, have been sentenced to death in this country during the last thirty years; and in how many of such cases the Secretary of State for the Home Department has recommended the exercise of the Prerogative to grant a reprieve.

Major Lloyd-George

During the thirty years 1925 to 1954, 677 men and sixty women were sentenced to death in England and Wales. Of these, twenty men and one woman were convicted of treason or treachery between 1939 and 1946. The convictions of eighteen men and two women were quashed or varied on appeal. One man died immediately after being convicted. Thirty-six men and two women were respited and removed to Broadmoor Institution, 247 men and forty-nine women were reprieved and had their sentences commuted to imprisonment or penal servitude for life. Three hundred and seventy-five men and seven women were executed.

Mr. Yates

In view especially of the large number of women who have been reprieved during this period, could the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether there has ever been any loss of public confidence, or whether the Home Secretary has had cause to regret the number of reprieves that have been made? If so, having regard to the disparity between the numbers of men and of women, would he not consider a greater exercise of the recommending of reprieves?

Major Lloyd-George

As I said in answer to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on the previous Question, every case must be decided on its merits. I have gone personally with some great care into the cases of the forty-nine women who were reprieved. In an overwhelming number of the cases there were strong recommendations to mercy by the jury, strongly supported by the trial judge.