§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Home Secretary if he is prepared to grant a Return showing statistics of countries in which the death penalty has been abolished for a period exceeding 10 years, and statistics relating to crimes of violence to which the death penalty was applicable for 10 years before, and five years subsequent to, the abolition of the death penalty, respectively?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANA Return of the nature suggested would be difficult to collect, and might be misleading, as it is difficult to distinguish between countries where sentences of death cannot be imposed and those where such sentences though passed are not executed. But I will consider whether statistics on the subject can be collected.