§ Mr. H. McLARENasked the Home Secretary whether he has received representations in reference to the sentence passed on a girl named Roberts convicted of the murder of her infant child at Hinckley; and whether, in view of the feeling aroused by the passing of the death sentence in such cases, he can see his way to introduce into the House of Commons a Bill giving discretionary powers to the judge to pass a sentence other than death?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I will send the hon. Member the draft 925W of a Bill dealing with this matter, which Was agreed to by the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Attorney-general in 1910. If a Bill on those lines were introduced and proved to be uncontroversial, I think it might be passed.