HC Deb 20 November 1940 vol 365 c2003W
Mr. Lewis

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of issuing regulations or, need be, of promoting legislation, to secure that anyone convicted of an act which, though deliberately intended to help our enemies, is not held to be sufficiently grave to warrant the infliction of the death penalty, shall be imprisoned for not less than the duration of the war?

Mr. H. Morrison

No amendment of the law is required since, apart from cases under the Treachery Act, for which the penalty is death, Defence Regulation 2A provides that if, with intent to assist the enemy, any person does any act which is likely to assist the enemy or to prejudice the public safety, the defence of the realm or the efficient prosecution of the war, he shall be liable to penal servitude for life.

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