§ 77. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs in how many cases over the last 10 years, 66W in British Colonial territories, executions have taken place one year or more after the accused have been condemned to death.
§ Mr. George ThomasI regret the information requested is not available.
§ 78. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how often over the last 10 years, in cases in which the sentence has now been carried out, Her Majesty's Government have declined to advise Her Majesty to reprieve murderers or terrorists condemned to death in British Colonial territories.
§ Mr. George ThomasThe Secretary of State declined to advise Her Majesty to grant the reprieve of death sentences in ten cases but without detailed inquiries from the Governments of the overseas territories concerned, some of whom are now independent, I am not able to say whether all the condemned persons were executed.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, before recommending a reprieve for three Rhodesian murderers, he satisfied himself that they had signified their wish to petition Her Majesty; and whether in fact they did so.
§ Mr. George ThomsonIt is not necessary for a condemned person to signify his consent before a petition may be submitted to Her Majesty for mercy to be extended to him. When a Petition is submitted it is my duty to advise Her Majesty on it.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs to what records of the case in question he applied his mind before deciding to recommend a reprieve for three Rhodesian murderers.
§ Mr. George ThomsonIn considering the advice that should be tendered to Her Majesty I took into account all relevant factors including the circumstances and previous history of the cases of the three condemned men.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, before recommending a reprieve of three Rhodesian murderers, he examined the colonial precedents for 67W recommending reprieves on grounds of delay between sentence and execution.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI was fully advised on the relevant practice and principles relating to the exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy in the colonies and I took this advice into account.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs which firms and individuals, in Salisbury and London, respectively, acted for the three Rhodesian murderers for whom he recommended reprieves.
§ Mr. George ThomsonIn Salisbury, Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans and counsel instructed by them and in London, Bernard Sheridan and Company and counsel instructed by them.
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, when tendering his advice to Her Majesty the Queen about the appeal on behalf of the convicted men Dhlamini and Mlambo, he took into account the fact that their London agent had acted without submitting a prior appeal to the Governor of Rhodesia.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI was of course aware that in these special circumstances the London lawyers acting for the condemned men had considered it their duty to submit a petition direct to Her Majesty, rather than to the Governor.