HC Deb 18 July 1974 vol 877 cc653-4
16. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his policy on the detention of criminals claiming political motivation.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

There is no special policy: they are, in principle, treated in the same way as are all other convicted offenders.

Mr. Adley

That answer seems slightly at variance with what the right hon. Gentleman said yesterday about hunger strikers—a decision which many of us will applaud. Does he not agree that if certain people insist on calling themselves political criminals and regard themselves as enemies of the State, we ought to consider imposing on them the same penalties as are still imposed on people convicted of treason, or, alternatively, that the penalties for treason should be reviewed? Will he give his attention to that point?

Mr. Jenkins

I see no contradiction between what I have just said and what I said yesterday, when I thought my proposals for doing away with forcible feeding in prisons—in, I hope, the majority of cases—were sensible and right on their merits. They do not necessarily apply specifically to political prisoners, although they do in certain cases. We do not recognise the status of "political prisoner" in this country, and there is certainly no ground on which one can suddenly announce that someone who so announces himself has ipso facto become convicted of treason. If the hon. Gentleman pauses for a moment to consider the matter I think that he will agree that there can be no basis in law for such a suggestion.

Mr. Ashton

Will my right hon. Friend continue to resist these demands for capital punishment for political crimes? Is he aware that there is a desire on the part of members of the IRA to appear as martyrs and that nothing would please them more than to parade outside Pentonville at 9 o'clock in the morning with dark glasses and black berets, in a form of political uniform? Does he not agree that to accede to the hon. Member's request would make the situation far worse than it is?

Mr. Jenkins

There is a certain amount in what my hon. Friend says. We want neithers martyrs nor offensive political parades. But in all these difficult matters—I understand how strongly people feel outside and in this House—there is room for rational thought as well as for instant suggestion.