§ Mr. James Wallace (Orkney and Shetland)I beg leave to present a petition to the House which has been collected by members of Amnesty International in the Orkney part of my constituency.
The petition states that those who have signed it wish to register strong support for the campaign against torture run by Amnesty International and to declare their wish that torture should be totally eradicated from the world; they believe that this would be advanced if Governments implemented Amnesty International's 12-point programme for the prevention of torture.
The petitioners pray that this House will urge Her Majesty's Government to support an effective United Nations convention against torture and in particular the extension of compensation to torture victims, to support proposals both at the United Nations and at the Council of Europe to create an international commission to make unannounced visits to any place of detention, and to intercede whenever and wherever possible on behalf of prisoners being tortured. It concludes by saying:
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.I believe that the terms of the petition will have support in all parts of the House. Torture is degrading to human dignity. I hope that it will be especially noted by Her Majesty's Ministers who are in a position to exert influence in international forums.
§ To lie upon the Table.