HC Deb 30 March 1938 vol 333 cc2023-4W
Captain Alan Graham

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the present unsatisfactory state of the law in regard both to trials and offences in connection with the sabotage of His Majesty's ships, aeroplanes, weapons of war generally, and the machinery which manufactures them, he will introduce amending legislation to deal with all these matters and especially to enable such cases to be tried under military rather than civil law, so that, where by acts of sabotage human life is deliberately imperilled, the administration of the death penalty may be facilitated?

The Attorney-General

I do not think that any such general alterations of the law as are suggested in the question are called for. There are a certain number of special Acts which supplement the general law applicable to offences of this kind. I am not aware that the present law is as suggested, in a generally unsatisfactory state. I will, however, consider, in co-operation with the Departments concerned, whether there are any particular respects in which the law requires strengthening or amendment.

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