HC Deb 21 March 1951 vol 485 cc291-2W
82. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that 514 persons were sentenced to corporal punishment in Tanganyika in 1949; if he will state the offences in the Penal Code which allow the infliction of this punishment; and why the policy announced at the Fourth Committee of the United Nations that corporal punishment could only be awarded for three categories of prison offences has not been implemented.

Mr. J. Griffiths

The answer to the first part of the Question is, yes. The Penal Code allows such punishment for certain offences against property and the person; for example, robbery with violence, aggravated assault and rape. The United Kingdom representative made it clear to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly that, althbugh it is our aim to restrict the award of corporal punishment as soon as possible to those categories of prison offences for which it is imposed in this country, this policy cannot be achieved overnight. The Governor of Tanganyika, with whom I have been in communication on this subject, proposes that the number of offences for which corporal punishment may be awarded should, as a first step, be substantially reduced. I am satisfied that he is giving the fullest practicable effect to the policy explained to the United Nations.

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