§ 12. Mr. Brockwayasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if a decision has now been reached regarding the application of the Homicide Act, 1957, to the High Corn-mission Territories.
§ Mr. AlportThe question of the reform of the law relating to homicide in 1372 force in the High Commission Territories is still being considered by the High Commissioner.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs it not the case that I put a Question on this matter some months ago? Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the urgency of the matter? Quite recently twelve Africans, on appeal to the Privy Council, have been refused the right of appeal and are under sentence of death, and three of them are women. In view of the urgency of this matter, will the hon. Gentleman look into it immediately?
§ Mr. AlportThe hon. Gentleman's Question on the Paper today and the original Question covered a very much wider problem than the specific one to which he has latterly referred, and I am in a position only to deal with the wider problem. The reason why it has taken time to reach a conclusion in this matter is that the basis, as I understand it, of the law of homicide in the High Commission Territories is Roman-Dutch as opposed to English. Therefore, a great deal of consideration has to be given to the development of ideas of law relating to homicide as they have developed in this country, and how it matches with and conforms to the development of the law with regard to homicide under Roman-Dutch law.