Mr. Ronald W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether Her Majesty's Government support the proposal submitted by the Assembly of the Council of Europe in recommendation 891 of 1980 that article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights be brought into line with the Assembly's proposal that capital punish- 432W ment for crimes committed in time of peace be abolished;
(2) what is the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to Council of Europe Assembly resolution 727 of 1980 which considers that capital punishment is inhuman and that those member States of the Council of Europe which have retained capital punishment for crimes committed in times of peace should abolish it.
§ Mr. BrittanHer Majesty's Government consider that the abolition or retention of capital punishment is an issue for each country to decide by its own constitutional processes. Accordingly, we are unable to support the recommendation and resolution to which the hon. Member refers.