§ 1. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the proposal to reintroduce capital punishment by hanging.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Leon Brittan)Since 10 June my Department has received about 1,100 letters about capital punishment from organisations and members of the public, either direct or forwarded by hon. Members.
§ Mr. EvansIn view of the decisive votes yesterday, will the Home Secretary assure us that the restoration of capital punishment is finished as a topic for discussion for a very long time to come? Will he reject any moves for a referendum on the issue? Does he realise that to deal with the problems of crime and violence we must tackle the problem of carrying arms and will he introduce measures to deal with that? Does he realise that if we are to deal with crime and violence the Government must re-examine their economic and social policies, which have led to the increase in crime in recent years?
§ Mr. BrittanIt is not for me to stop or to promote debate, but I should have thought that last night's votes were sufficiently decisive for it to be unlikely that the matter would come before the House again for quite a while. I do not believe that matters that are not of a constitutional type are suitable for a referendum. Yesterday's debate on capital punishment showed clearly that not just one but many questions must be asked, even by those who favour its restoration—for whom, in what circumstances, and so on. Therefore, the idea that there is a single question that can be answered in a simple way is not one that I find attractive.
996 The social causes of crime are many and various. I do not think that they can be easily identified in a supplementary answer any more than in a supplementary question.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonIn view of last night's votes, if the subject of capital punishment arose again in this country would it not he vital to hold a referendum? Should not Parliament know beyond peradventure the nation's view on this subject so that Parliament and the people are closer together in their general view?
§ Mr. BrittanIf there was one common thread in yesterday's debate it was the recognition by most people of the probable state of public opinion in so far as it could be ascertained. Therefore, if the object of a referendum is an inquiry I do not think that is necessary. If the object is a decision, for the reasons that I gave earlier, I do not think that it is appropriate.