§ Lord Windleshamasked the Leader of the House:
Whether he has given further consideration to the proposal made during proceedings on the Criminal Justice Bill [H.L.] on 1st December that a Select Committee should be established to consider the crime of and penalty for murder, and the arrangements for determining the duration of the period to be spent in custody by life prisoners.
§ The Leader of the House (Lord Belstead)I have considered the representations made during the passage of the Criminal Justice Bill and am satisfied that there are several issues relating to the crime of murder which would merit consideration by a Select Committee. I am pleased to say that this view is widely supported on all sides of the House.
I propose, therefore, to table today a Motion inviting the House to appoint a Select Committee to consider the scope and definition of the crime of murder in England and Wales and in Scotland; the question whether imprisonment for life should remain a mandatory rather than a maximum penalty for murder; and the working of the arrangements for reaching decisions on the release of those serving life sentences for murder.