§ 33. Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that 78 per cent. of the population is now in favour of the restoration of corporal punishment for crimes of violence against the person and that 74 per cent. is in favour of capital punishment for all types of murder, if he will now reconsider his policy with regard to crime and punishment.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)I have seen a variety of analyses of the figures on which my hon. Friend bases his statements relative to the opinion of the population of the United Kingdom on these complex and difficult subjects. I should not be prepared to propose a further change in the law relating to capital punishment until sufficient time has elapsed to enable the effect of the Homicide Act, 1957, to be assessed. As I announced in the House on 28th January, I have referred the question of corporal punishment to my Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders and I await its report.
§ Sir T. MooreYes, I know, but surely with the democratic philosophy and faith of my right hon. Friend he feels that the will of the majority must prevail? Surely he agrees with that, otherwise government might as well be handed over to the Opposition, and God forbid that that should happen?
§ Mr. ButlerMy philosophy is derived as much from John Stuart Mill as is the philosophy of anyone else in this House, but I think we have to mix the mixture a little between a poll of this sort, in which the answers are very varied—some of the conclusions were very different from what some hon. Members think— with the ordinary democratic process by which we are elected to this House'. I am quite ready to study the former and be guided by the latter, but I think that on matters like this we must introduce some small degree of science, and that I am attempting to do.
§ Miss BaconWill the right hon. Gentleman explain to his hon. Friend that it is not the job of Parliament to follow a privately-conducted public opinion poll, but rather to attempt to educate the public in regard to the facts in this case—facts which I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will agree show that flogging is not a deterrent?
§ Sir T. MooreI never mentioned flogging.
§ Mr. ButlerIt is precisely for reasons like that that I wish to put before the House as soon as I can a considered opinion on this subject. Meanwhile, I think we had better leave the matter as it has been left by this interchange.