§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to abolish capital punishment in the Caribbean dependent territories and Bermuda.
§ Mr. HurdIn order to be consistent with the position in the United Kingdom where Parliament has expressed a clear view, the British Government consider that the death penalty for murder should be abolished in those dependent territories which elect to remain under the Crown. Following consultations conducted by our Governors with their dependent territory Governments, we shall submit for the approval of Her Majesty the Queen at a forthcoming meeting of the Privy Council an order under which the death penalty for murder in the Caribbean dependent territories will be abolished and a sentence for life imprisonment substituted. The British Government hope that the Government of Bermuda will decide to follow this example as soon as possible.