§ 3. Mr. Fitchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to forbid the carrying out of an execution at a prison in the county in which the prisoner lives, or in which the murder was committed.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI regret that the considerable practical disadvantages which I see in the hon. Member's proposal outweigh any consideration in its favour.
§ Mr. FitchCan the right hon. Gentleman recall the scenes, both inside and outside Pentonville Prison, prior to the execution of Marwood? Would he not agree that these scenes were aggravated by the fact that Marwood was a local man and that the murder was committed in that area? Does he not feel that if we are to continue with this uncivilised business of hanging people we might make an effort to make it less of a spectacle?
§ Mr. ButlerI am aware of the importance of making it less of a spectacle, but I have weighed up the considerations and, on the whole, I do not as yet see the advantage of altering the system.