§ Mr. Cooper-Keyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murderers, convicted before the passing of the Homicide Act, now await execution; and whether he will now change the regulations, regarding such prisoners, as to the announcement of execution dates.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerFour prisoners convicted of murder before the passage of the Homicide Act are at present under sentence of death. All have appealed and no question of announcing execution dates in respect of them arises.
The announcement of execution dates is now governed by Section 11 of the Homicide Act. In pursuance of that section every execution date fixed since the Act received the Royal Assent has been announced by means of a Press notice issued by the Home Office and the posting of notices outside prisons has been discontinued.